Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected Western proposals to deploy a security force in Ukraine after a ceasefire. He warned that any foreign troops entering the country would be treated as “legitimate targets.”
His remarks came after a Paris summit where world leaders discussed post-war security guarantees for Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron announced that 26 countries had agreed to provide support. He said troops could be deployed “by land, sea or air” but would not fight Russia directly. Instead, they would act as a reassurance force to prevent new aggression.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the plan, calling it the first concrete step toward long-term security. He noted that thousands of foreign troops could eventually arrive, though details remain unclear. The United States has not confirmed its role, but former president Donald Trump suggested American support would likely come through air power.
Speaking in Vladivostok, Putin dismissed the initiative as unnecessary if peace was reached. “If decisions are made that ensure long-term peace, then I don’t see the point of foreign troops,” he said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also called the Western plan “provocative” and emphasized that Russia considers NATO an enemy.
Despite rejecting the idea, Putin said he remained open to talks with Kyiv. However, he accused Ukraine of holding “impossible positions” on territorial disputes. He even proposed hosting talks in Moscow, an offer mocked by Zelensky as insincere.
Western leaders, including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, stressed their commitment to supporting Ukraine. NATO’s secretary general insisted Russia has “no veto” over such decisions.
Three years into the war, Russia controls Crimea and parts of four other annexed regions. While both sides continue to express interest in peace, the gap between their positions remains wide, and hopes for an immediate ceasefire are slim.
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