Putin warns Western troops in Ukraine would be ‘legitimate targets’

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.  

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