Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that any foreign troops sent to Ukraine before a peace deal will be treated as “legitimate targets” by Moscow. Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok on Friday, he stressed that foreign soldiers entering Ukraine during ongoing fighting would face direct attacks.
Putin dismissed the idea of deploying peacekeeping forces in Ukraine even after a final agreement, stating that Moscow would only comply with a treaty that guarantees an end to the conflict. He said both Russia and Ukraine would need clear security guarantees.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov later explained that Russia would require “legally binding documents” for any such deal. He added that Moscow could not rely simply on verbal promises.
Putin’s comments came a day after French President Emmanuel Macron announced that 26 of Ukraine’s allies had pledged troops as a “reassurance force” once fighting ends. Macron spoke following a meeting of 35 countries that back Ukraine.
Putin repeated that if foreign troops enter Ukraine now, Moscow will consider them legitimate targets. His statement highlighted Russia’s strong opposition to outside military involvement without a formal peace agreement.
