Vladimir Putin has vowed that any Western troops deployed to Ukraine will be treated as a ‘legitimate’ target by Russia’s armed forces.
The chilling threat came just a day after Kyiv’s allies said they had signed up to a plan that could see foreign soldiers stationed in Ukraine to guarantee any future peace deal.
Two dozen nations, led by Britain and France, pledged on Thursday to form a ‘reassurance’ force on land, at sea and in the air to monitor a potential settlement.
Officials have described the plan as part of a package of security guarantees designed to ensure that Russia cannot launch another large-scale invasion once the current fighting ends.
Speaking at an economic forum in Vladivostok on Friday, Putin declared: ‘If some troops appear there, especially now during the fighting, we proceed from the premise that they will be legitimate targets.’
He claimed such deployments would undermine the prospect of a long-term settlement, repeating his assertion that Ukraine’s military ties with NATO and the West are among the ‘root causes’ of the conflict.
It comes as Putin invited Zelensky for talks in Moscow. He assured the Ukrainian leader he would provide security for a summit in Russia.
So far, Western governments have not given details on how many troops could be involved or what specific contributions each country would make.
Kyiv has consistently argued that international guarantees, backed up by a physical military presence, are essential if Ukraine is to sign any deal.
Officials in Kyiv fear that without binding commitments and a deterrent force, Moscow could regroup and reignite the war within years.
Putin insisted there would be no need for foreign forces if an agreement was reached.
‘If decisions are reached that will lead to peace, to long-term peace, then I simply don’t see the point in their presence on the territory of Ukraine,’ he said.
‘Because if deals are reached, let no one doubt that Russia will comply with them in full.’
Talking about the deal alongside Zelensky on Thursday, French president Emmanuel Macron said: ‘We have today 26 countries who have formally committed – some others have not yet taken a position – to deploy as a ‘reassurance force’ troops in Ukraine, or be present on the ground, in the sea, or in the air.’
Zelensky hailed the move: ‘I think that today, for the first time in a long time, this is the first such serious concrete step.’
The troops would not be deployed ‘on the front line’ but aim to ‘prevent any new major aggression’, the French president said.
Since launching its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Russia’s assault has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions and left vast areas of eastern and southern Ukraine in ruins.
Putin’s threats come as talks with US president Donald Trump did little to quell his attacks on Ukrainian cities.
Since the Anchorage summit in August, his forces have targeted several civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and apartment buildings.
Many of the victims of his onslaught have been children and the elderly. Last week, he launched his deadliest attack on Ukraine since July, killing at least 23 people.
All but one of the people who died were in an apartment building that was totally destroyed during the attack.