Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Friday, that any Western troops deployed to Ukraine would be legitimate targets for Russian forces in response to security guarantees for Ukraine.
Speaking at an economic forum in Vladivostok, Putin said Moscow would treat foreign troops in Ukraine as hostile.
“Therefore, if some troops appear there, especially now, during military operations, we proceed from the fact that these will be legitimate targets for destruction,” he said.
“And if decisions are reached that lead to peace, to long-term peace, then I simply do not see any sense in their presence on the territory of Ukraine, full stop.”
His remarks came a day after French President Emmanuel Macron announced that 26 countries had pledged to provide post-war security guarantees to Kyiv, potentially including an international force on land, sea and in the air.
Macron had also expressed confidence that Washington will provide joint security guarantees despite President Trump appearing hesitant to do so.
Russia has long argued that one of its reasons for launching the war was to prevent NATO from admitting Ukraine as a member and deploying allied forces on its territory.
Ukraine has pressed for firm Western backing to guard against future Russian attacks. France and Britain, which co-chair a “coalition of the willing,” have indicated they are open to deploying troops to Ukraine after the war ends.
U.S. President Donald Trump has ruled out ground forces but suggested Washington could provide other forms of support, including air power.
Putin said security guarantees should apply to both Russia and Ukraine, adding “Of course, Russia will implement these agreements. But, in any case, no one has discussed this with us at a serious level yet.”
Trump, who took office in January with a pledge to end the war quickly, hosted Putin in Alaska last month in a summit that failed to deliver a breakthrough. Having “rolled out the red carpet” for the Russian leader, Trump later accused Putin of conspiring with China and North Korea after the three countries’ leaders staged a show of unity in Beijing.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has long pushed for a direct meeting with Putin to try to advance peace talks. But Putin on Friday dismissed the value of such talks, saying “it will be practically impossible to reach an agreement with the Ukrainian side on key issues.”
Still, he reiterated an offer to host Zelenskyy in Moscow, promising “100%” security guarantees for his safety if the Ukrainian leader agreed to come.
“We are ready for any kind of meetings. But we don’t feel that Putin is ready to end this war. He can speak but it’s just words, and nobody trusts his words,” Zelenskyy said on Friday.
Director James Cameron has shared the key reasons behind the global success of Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third installment in one of the highest-gross...
As pollution levels in New Delhi reached dangerously high levels over the weekend, residents of the Indian capital sought refuge in the cooler, cleane...
A major power outage swept across San Francisco on Saturday, leaving up to 130,000 customers without electricity, disrupting traffic and forcing some ...
Israel’s government has approved the creation of 19 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move that analysts say further undermines th...
The Oligarch’s Design is a methodical and tightly constructed investigative film that shifts attention away from front-line events to the less visib...
Israel’s government has approved the creation of 19 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move that analysts say further undermines the prospects for a viable Palestinian state. The decision comes amid a sustained period of settlement expansion under Israel’s far-right-led government.
Senior representatives from the U.S., Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye have held talks in Miami to assess progress on the Gaza ceasefire and lay the groundwork for its next phase, according to a statement issued by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff.
Swedish customs officials have boarded a Russian freighter anchored in Swedish waters after confirming that the vessel and its owners are subject to European Union and U.S. sanctions.
Senior officials and media leaders from Turkic states have met in Ankara to strengthen cooperation against disinformation and deepen coordination in the information sphere.
The death toll from Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades has risen to 161, after forensic analysis confirmed one more victim among the charred remains at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, more than three weeks after the blaze began, authorities said on Saturday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet President Donald Trump on 29 December in Florida, where he is expected to present a package of military options regarding Iran, Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported on Saturday.
The United States seized a second merchant vessel carrying oil off the coast of Venezuela in international waters on Saturday, as part of Washington’s sanctions enforcement campaign, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
US intelligence assessments indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to seek full control of Ukraine and to expand Russia’s influence in parts of Europe formerly under Soviet rule, contradicting repeated claims that Moscow poses no threat to the continent.
A major power outage swept across San Francisco on Saturday, leaving up to 130,000 customers without electricity, disrupting traffic and forcing some businesses to close temporarily, officials said.
Russia’s top foreign policy adviser has criticised recent European and Ukrainian amendments to U.S. proposals for ending the war in Ukraine, saying the changes do not increase the likelihood of peace.
The Nigerian government has confirmed the release of a further 130 schoolchildren abducted from a Catholic school in Niger State in November, completing the rescue of all pupils taken during one of the country’s largest recent mass kidnappings.
As pollution levels in New Delhi reached dangerously high levels over the weekend, residents of the Indian capital sought refuge in the cooler, cleaner air of northern India's hill towns.
Israel’s government has approved the creation of 19 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move that analysts say further undermines the prospects for a viable Palestinian state. The decision comes amid a sustained period of settlement expansion under Israel’s far-right-led government.
Ukrainian negotiators are scheduled to hold another round of talks with U.S. officials on Sunday to discuss efforts to end the ongoing war with Russia. Top Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov expressed hope for progress, highlighting that discussions have been both "constructive and substantive."
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment