Putin Warns of Consequences for Western Troops in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin cautioned on Friday that any Western troops deployed in Ukraine would be considered “legitimate targets” by Moscow. He remarked at the Vradivostok economic forum, “Therefore, they go from the fact that, especially if some troops appear there during military operations, these will become legal targets of destruction.”

Putin also expressed doubt about the presence of these forces, suggesting that if a peace agreement were reached, he wouldn’t see a reason for their presence in Ukraine to continue.

This warning came shortly after French President Emmanuel Macron announced that 26 countries had expressed readiness to send troops or contribute to Ukraine’s security as part of a postwar plan. According to Ukrainian President Voldy Mirzelensky, countries like Italy, Poland, and Germany are among Ukraine’s “security guarantors,” and he aligned with Macron’s statement on Thursday.

Russia has consistently dismissed the notion of a Western-led peacekeeping force in Ukraine. Putin made it clear that, following a peace agreement, Russia would adhere to any treaty that ends the invasion initiated in February 2022.

Ukraine is actively seeking support from its Western allies to protect against possible future invasions by Russia. The UK, France, and Estonia have shown willingness to send troops.

Efforts to end the prolonged conflict in Eastern Europe have prompted President Trump to halt the sending of US troops to Ukraine. However, he remains open to providing some form of air support, with Ukrainian leaders noting that discussions with Trump on Thursday revolved around enhancing the protection of Ukraine’s skies amid ongoing Russian attacks.

Trump has also worked to arrange a meeting between Putin and Zelensky following conversations with both leaders recently. Yet, Russian officials seem skeptical about the effectiveness of such a meeting, claiming it’s nearly impossible to reach a significant agreement with Ukraine.

Earlier in the week, Putin offered to meet with Zelensky in Moscow, stating he was ready to discuss “working conditions and safety” for a potential sit-down. However, he expressed frustration with what he described as an overrepresentation of demands if they insisted on meeting elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Russia has continued its air assaults on Ukraine, reportedly launching 157 drones and seven missiles in a recent wave of strikes. The Ukrainian Air Force stated that they intercepted 121 of these drones, while Russia’s Ministry of Defense claimed to have targeted 92 Ukrainian drones overnight.