Russia has once again dismissed the proposal for foreign military personnel to be stationed in Ukraine. This statement comes as European leaders are meeting with Ukrainian President Voldy Mie Zelensky to discuss the situation, alongside former President Donald Trump.
On Thursday, Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated that the idea of deploying foreign troops is “unacceptable” to Moscow. She told reporters, “Russia is not going to discuss foreign intervention in Ukraine in any form.”
This response was in reaction to comments from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who had mentioned the possibility of sending European troops to Ukraine. Interestingly, Germany has also expressed skepticism about this idea. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius remarked, “We don’t discuss the issue before we sit at the table negotiating with various political parties who have a stake in this.”
In a separate development, President Trump referred to a recent meeting with Zelensky at the White House as a “very good, early” step toward peace regarding the conflict involving Russia. Although the White House has not provided an official statement on the specifics of the discussion, Zelensky expressed gratitude for Trump’s efforts, indicating it was a productive meeting. “I would like to express my special thanks to President Trump for all my efforts to end this war and for being ready to provide U.S. support for Ukraine,” he tweeted.
During a conference where U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff was present, Zelensky mentioned that leaders discussed their willingness to contribute to Ukraine’s security. He acknowledged a shared perspective that Russia aims to prolong the negotiation process and thereby the conflict. “We must increase our support for Ukraine and escalate our pressure on Russia,” Zelensky asserted.
As calls for an end to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War continue, which has persisted for over three years since the invasion in February 2022, the situation remains tense.
