Vladimir Putin has declared that any Western troops deployed to Ukraine would be considered 'legitimate targets' for Russian strikes, escalating tensions as European leaders seek to formulate post-war security guarantees for Kyiv. Speaking at an economic forum in Vladivostok on Friday, the Russian president said the presence of foreign forces would violate Moscow's longstanding opposition to NATO troops in Ukraine.
Putin's remarks followed a proposal by French President Emmanuel Macron, who announced on Thursday that 26 nations had pledged to provide post-war security guarantees for Ukraine, including a land, sea, and air presence. However, many European countries, including Germany, Spain, and Italy, have refused to commit troops, and earlier plans for a peacekeeping mission have been scaled back to a 'reassurance force' focused on training rather than combat.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated on Friday that the proposed force would be substantial, stating it would 'definitely be in the thousands, not just a few.' However, Putin's threats appear designed to deter Western nations from deploying troops, as he knows they are unwilling to go to war over Ukraine.
The United States has vacillated on its role, with reports suggesting it could lead monitoring of a demilitarised buffer zone after a ceasefire, using troops from non-NATO countries. However, all plans remain hypothetical, hinging on a peace deal that seems distant. Trump's efforts to broker a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy have stalled, with Putin claiming a meeting is 'practically impossible' unless Zelenskyy travels to Moscow.
