Vladicostok, Russia – Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a direct warning to Western nations, stating that any foreign troops deployed to Ukraine as part of a proposed security guarantee would be considered a “legitimate target” for Russia’s military. The statement, made at the Eastern Economic Forum, came in response to a recent summit in Paris where 26 nations pledged to contribute forces to a potential peacekeeping mission in the event of a ceasefire.
The Paris summit, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, was presented as a European-led effort to provide Ukraine with security assurances should a peace deal with Russia be reached. This move was spurred by concerns over the uncertainty of US commitment to such an arrangement, particularly in light of President Donald Trump’s direct diplomatic overtures to Moscow.
“If some troops appear there, especially now during the fighting, we proceed from the premise that they will be legitimate targets,” Putin stated, reiterating his long-held position that Ukraine’s increasing military alignment with the West is a root cause of the conflict. He added that such a troop presence would be counterproductive to achieving long-term peace.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov echoed these sentiments, labeling the proposal as “definitely not” acceptable and a “threat to ourselves.” He maintained that all necessary security guarantees for Ukraine were already included in the framework of the 2022 Istanbul peace talks, which would require Ukraine to abandon its NATO ambitions in exchange for security assurances.
Western nations, including France and the UK, argue that a “reassurance” force is necessary to enforce any future deal, citing a history of Russian infringements on previous agreements. The uncertainty of US involvement remains a key factor, with President Trump having previously indicated that while Washington would not deploy ground troops, it might offer other forms of support, such as air power.
The latest developments underscore the deep chasm in a diplomatic process that has shown little sign of progress. While Russia insists on a bilateral approach to talks with Ukraine, some allies of Kyiv worry that such a meeting could be used by Putin to undermine the process and create further divisions within the Western alliance.
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