Putin Warns Western Troops in Ukraine Would Be Targets
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Friday that any Western troops deployed to Ukraine would be considered legitimate targets for Russian forces.
His remarks came just one day after French President Emmanuel Macron announced that 26 countries had pledged postwar security guarantees for Ukraine. These guarantees include the possible deployment of an international force on land, at sea, and in the air.
Russia Opposes NATO Expansion in Ukraine
Moscow has repeatedly said that one of its key reasons for launching the war in Ukraine was to block NATO from admitting Kyiv as a member and positioning allied forces on Ukrainian soil.
Speaking at an economic forum in Vladivostok, Putin said:
“If troops appear there, especially now during military operations, we consider them legitimate targets for destruction.”
Putin Links Peace to Troop Withdrawal
Putin added that if negotiations eventually lead to a long-term peace settlement, then the presence of foreign troops in Ukraine would be unnecessary.
“If decisions are reached that lead to peace, then I see no reason for them to be in Ukraine,” he concluded.
