Russian President Vladimir Putin cautioned on Friday that any Western troops stationed in Ukraine would be regarded as “legitimate targets for defeat,” issuing a new warning against proposals for international forces to be sent in once the fighting halts.
“This is one of the root causes (of the war): trying to involve Ukraine in NATO,” Putin said while addressing an economic conference in Russia’s Far East. “So if any troops appear there, especially during the ongoing hostilities, we assume they will be legitimate targets for defeat.”
His comments followed an announcement in Paris a day earlier, where European and Allied governments backed a joint plan for security support after the war. During that gathering, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said 26 nations had signed on to provide guarantees for Kyiv, potentially including military help “in the sky, in the sea and on the ground.” French President Emmanuel Macron further described the pledges as possible deployments “by land, sea or air” once the fighting stops.
Putin argued that the arrival of outside forces would only hinder efforts if Russia and Ukraine manage to reach a political agreement. “If decisions are reached that lead to long-term peace, then I simply see no reason for their presence on Ukrainian territory,” he said. “Because if such agreements are reached, let no one doubt that Russia will fully implement them.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reinforced Putin’s position, stressing Moscow’s grievances with NATO and equating Western security commitments to Ukraine with further expansion of the alliance eastward.
“What was one of the root causes of this conflict? It was when the foundations of security guarantees for our country began to be eroded, when Ukraine was being drawn into NATO, and when NATO’s military infrastructure began moving toward our borders,” Peskov said, according to Russian state outlets. He noted that any final deal would have to include assurances “to both us and the Ukrainians.”
The warnings from Moscow came at the end of a week in which Putin engaged in high-profile diplomacy, including a trip to Beijing, where he stood together with Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. While there, Putin revealed that U.S. President Donald Trump had personally asked him to hold direct discussions with Zelenskyy about ending the conflict.
“Donald asked me if it was possible to hold such a meeting. I said yes, it is possible. In the end, if Zelensky is ready, let him come to Moscow. Such a meeting will take place,” Putin said. He added that Russia would guarantee the Ukrainian president’s safety if he came to the capital.
Zelenskyy rejected the proposal outright, saying Moscow was again attempting to stall genuine negotiations. “Our American partners told me that Putin had invited me to Moscow. In my opinion, if someone wants the meeting to not take place, they should invite me to Moscow,” Zelenskyy said Thursday.
Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, stated that Kyiv is prepared for face-to-face discussions but only in a neutral setting. “Right now, at least seven countries are ready to host a meeting between the leaders of Ukraine and Russia to bring an end to the war — Austria, the Holy See, Switzerland, Türkiye, and three Gulf states,” he wrote on social media.
{Matzav.com}
