The Kremlin has dismissed proposals for foreign troops to be stationed in Ukraine as part of post-war security guarantees, warning that European and American forces could never provide Kyiv’s protection.
Russian state media quoted Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov as saying: “Can Ukraine’s security guarantees be ensured and provided by foreign, especially European and American, military contingents? Definitely not, they cannot.”
The remarks came after French President Emmanuel Macron announced that 26 Western allies had formally committed to supporting Ukraine with troops “by land, sea or air” once a ceasefire is reached. The pledge was unveiled following a summit of 35 countries dubbed the “Coalition of the Willing.”
Macron said US backing would be finalised soon, with President Donald Trump suggesting American support could “probably” take the form of air power. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed he had discussed “maximum protection for Ukraine’s skies” with Trump.
However, hopes of an imminent breakthrough dimmed after Russian President Vladimir Putin met Trump in Alaska last month, with Moscow continuing to send troops into Ukraine despite ongoing ceasefire efforts.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the alliance’s commitment as an “unbreakable pledge,” while NATO chief Mark Rutte said Russia had “no veto” over the deployment of Western forces in Ukraine, “It’s a sovereign country. It’s not for them to decide.”
Few nations have explicitly promised ground troops, with Washington already ruling out such a move. European diplomats caution that pre-emptive commitments could bolster Putin’s anti-Western narrative.
Meanwhile, violence continued on Thursday, when two mine-clearers were killed in a Russian strike in northern Ukraine.
Putin, while claiming Russian advances on all fronts, has rejected a temporary ceasefire, insisting the conflict will only end with a full peace agreement. Zelensky dismissed Putin’s invitation to Moscow for talks as “unacceptable,” calling it evidence Russia was not serious about negotiations.
As pressure mounts, Western leaders are weighing historic precedents for ceasefires without peace deals, with the Korean armistice cited as a potential model.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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