Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Friday that any deployment of Western military forces in Ukraine would trigger a Russian response, reiterating Moscow’s staunch opposition to Kyiv joining NATO.
Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok, Putin addressed the so-called “coalition of the willing,” Western allies reportedly considering postwar security guarantees for Ukraine. These proposals could involve stationing troops, conducting air patrols, or securing maritime routes in the Black Sea. Putin emphasized that such measures would only be considered following a ceasefire or a formal peace agreement.
“As for the possible deployment of military contingents in Ukraine — this is one of the root causes of Ukraine being drawn into NATO,” Putin said. “Therefore, if any foreign troops appear there, particularly amid ongoing hostilities, we will regard them as legitimate targets for strikes.”
He added that, in the context of long-term peace, there would be no justification for the presence of foreign forces on Ukrainian soil. Putin’s comments underscore Russia’s enduring resistance to NATO expansion and its insistence that postwar arrangements exclude permanent Western military involvement.
On the prospects of negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Putin remained skeptical, asserting that reaching agreement on core issues would be “almost impossible.” He also specified that any potential talks would have to occur in Moscow, dismissing other venues. “If someone genuinely wants to meet with us, the best place is the capital of the Russian Federation, the hero city of Moscow. We will provide all necessary working conditions and security,” he said.
Zelenskyy has already rejected the idea of meeting in Moscow. Meanwhile, the White House continues efforts to organize discussions aimed at ending the conflict, as the Kremlin appears to delay direct engagement.
