Putin threatens western troops in Ukraine as ‘legitimate targets’

Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a stern warning that any Western military personnel deployed to Ukraine, even under the guise of peacekeeping, would be considered “legitimate targets” by Moscow’s armed forces.

Speaking at an economic forum in Vladivostok on Friday, Putin reacted to an announcement made a day earlier by a coalition of Western nations led by France and Britain, which pledged to form a so-called “reassurance force” in Ukraine.

“If some troops appear there, especially now during the fighting, we proceed from the premise that they will be legitimate targets,” Putin declared.

On Thursday, 26 countries, including several NATO members, publicly committed to deploying land, sea, and air assets to Ukraine in the event of a peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow. The multinational force, proposed as a security guarantee for Ukraine, would aim to deter future Russian aggression by establishing a permanent Western military presence near the front lines.

French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, clarified that the force would not be placed directly on the battlefield, but would instead serve to patrol and enforce any peace arrangement.

“This is a reassurance force, not a combat mission,” Macron said. “It is designed to prevent any new major aggression.”

The initiative marks a significant shift in the West’s involvement in the conflict, with concrete troop commitments for the first time, even if contingent upon a ceasefire or negotiated agreement.

President Zelensky praised the announcement, calling it “the first serious, concrete step in a long time” toward ensuring Ukraine’s long-term security.

However, President Putin strongly rejected the premise, framing the Western troop plan as a provocative move rather than a step toward peace.

He reiterated Moscow’s long-standing position that NATO expansion and growing Western military support for Ukraine were among the “root causes” of the war, which began in February 2022.

“The deployment of such a force is not conducive to long-term peace,” Putin argued.

Since the invasion began, over tens of thousands have been killed, and millions displaced. Ukraine’s eastern and southern regions have suffered extensive damage, making the conflict the bloodiest on European soil since World War II.

Despite military aid and financial support from the West, Ukraine has faced challenges in regaining lost territory and repelling continued Russian offensives.

Security guarantees from Western allies have long been a key condition for Kyiv in any peace negotiation. The reassurance force, while not yet deployed, is intended to fulfill that role.

Details such as troop numbers, timelines, and specific country contributions remain undisclosed.