Putin warns European troops in Ukraine would become military targets despite peace deal
Key Takeaways
- The Russian president said foreign troops stationed in Ukraine after a peace agreement would be considered legitimate military targets.
- Moscow maintains that European military deployments in Ukraine would threaten Russia's national security and risk renewed hostilities.
- Putin told US envoys that Russia wanted a lasting settlement but insisted that any agreement must address Moscow's security demands.
The Russian president rejects foreign military deployments in Ukraine, warning that European troops could trigger renewed fighting even after a peace agreement.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that European troops deployed to Ukraine following a peace agreement would be treated as legitimate military targets, raising concerns about renewed hostilities between Moscow and Kyiv.
Speaking during talks with US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner at the Kremlin, Putin rejected the possibility of foreign military forces remaining on Ukrainian territory as part of a post-war security arrangement.
"From the very beginning, we have said that the presence of any foreign troops on Ukrainian territory is absolutely unacceptable to us, because we believe that this threatens the security of the Russian Federation," Putin said.
The Russian leader argued that proposals by European governments to deploy troops in Ukraine contradicted their stated commitment to ending the conflict.
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Zelensky warns Europe against US-Russia security deal as Putin talks continue
He warned that such an arrangement could undermine any peace agreement and lead to further military confrontation.
"And that is a continuation of the war. The circle is closed," he said.
Putin also addressed Russia's diplomatic relations with European countries, insisting that Moscow had never rejected discussions with European governments.
Instead, he accused European leaders of reducing diplomatic engagement with Russia.
The Russian president maintained that Moscow wanted a lasting, potentially permanent, peace agreement with Ukraine but insisted that any settlement must address Russia's security concerns.
He contrasted Europe's position on troop deployments with proposals from the US administration to establish broader security arrangements for the continent.
According to Putin, a lasting agreement would require security guarantees acceptable to Moscow, including restrictions on the presence of foreign military forces in Ukraine.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
