Under the guise of security, if Western forces enter Ukraine, they will be targeted: Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that Western troops would be unacceptable in Ukraine under any name—even after the war. He fully rejected the proposal for a Western ‘security assurance force’ intended to be deployed post-ceasefire, warning that if such forces were sent, they would become legitimate targets for attack.

French President Emmanuel Macron revealed that 26 allied countries had committed to deploying military personnel to Ukraine via land, sea, or air immediately after a ceasefire. Putin strongly condemned this plan. However, Macron did not specify which nations would send troops.

Issuing a warning, Putin said, ‘Any troops sent to Ukraine will be a legitimate target for Russia.’ Presently, a ceasefire remains highly unlikely. Hopes had risen for talks between President Putin and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy after their meeting in Alaska last month, but prospects remain dim.