Western troops in Ukraine would be legitimate targets', Putin says

"Speaking a day after the French president, Emmanuel Macron, announced still-vague plans for a package of support for Ukraine backed by 26 nations, Putin on Friday said any guarantees that involved boots on the ground would violate Moscow's longstanding objections to Nato troops in Ukraine. Therefore, if some troops appear there, especially now, during military operations, we proceed from the fact that these will be legitimate targets for destruction, Putin told an economic forum in Vladivostok."

"While there is little sign that Donald Trump's efforts to forge a peace deal in the Russia-Ukraine conflict are any closer to success, European leaders have been trying to draw up security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of a future deal. Thursday's meeting of 35 leaders in Paris was meant to finalise how the guarantees could look and to ask the US for support in implementing them."

"On Thursday, Macron announced that 26 nations had pledged to provide postwar security guarantees to Kyiv, which would include a land, sea and air presence. The day the conflict stops, the security guarantees will be deployed, Macron said, during a joint press conference with Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Elysee Palace in Paris. Speaking in the western Ukrainian city of Uzhhorod on Friday, Zelenskyy suggested the plans would involve a significant western force stationed in the country."

Vladimir Putin warned any Western troops stationed in Ukraine would be legitimate targets for Russian strikes, citing Moscow's objections to Nato forces on Ukrainian soil. Macron announced plans backed by 26 nations for postwar security guarantees, including land, sea and air presence, and said guarantees would be deployed when the conflict stops. European leaders met in Paris to finalise guarantee designs and seek US support, but several countries refused troop commitments. Proposals for a peacekeeping mission were scaled back to a reassurance force stationed far from the front to provide training rather than combat assistance. Zelenskyy suggested the plans would involve a significant Western force in Ukraine.

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