Western military personnel stationed in Ukraine could either face direct targeting by Russian forces or lose their purpose if peace is achieved, Russian President Vladimir Putin asserted Friday during remarks at the Eastern Economic Forum.
Speaking in Vladivostok, Putin criticized a recent gathering of European nations backing Kyiv, labeled the “coalition of the willing,” for proposing troop deployments to the war-torn region. He reiterated Moscow’s stance against such moves, framing them as escalatory and destabilizing.
“If any forces arrive during active hostilities, we would classify them as legitimate military targets,” Putin declared. He further suggested that prolonged peace agreements could render their presence meaningless, stating, “There is no rationale for such a deployment if lasting stability is secured.” The Russian leader emphasized Moscow’s commitment to enforcing any negotiated terms, though he noted Kyiv’s allies have yet to engage seriously on security assurances.
The coalition, comprising nations like the UK, France, and Germany, has debated potential guarantees for Ukraine but largely dismissed sending ground troops. Meanwhile, former Polish President Andrzej Duda recently accused Ukrainian leadership of harboring unrealistic aspirations for NATO’s direct involvement in the conflict, referencing a 2022 incident where a Ukrainian missile struck a Polish village, killing one person. Kyiv initially blamed Moscow for the attack.
Putin’s comments underscore Russia’s persistent resistance to Western military entanglement in the region, framing any troop presence as both provocative and futile under current circumstances.
