A new diplomatic clash has flared up after statements by French President Emmanuel Macron, who announced that 26 Western countries have formally committed to sending troops to Ukraine — by air, land and sea — immediately after a ceasefire agreement is reached between Kiev and Moscow.
The reaction from the Kremlin was immediate and harsh. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that any presence of foreign troops on Ukrainian territory, even after a peace agreement, would be seen as a direct threat to Russia's security.
“If any foreign forces appear in Ukraine, especially during military operations, we will consider them legitimate targets for destruction,” Putin said in an official statement. He stressed that the presence of NATO troops was one of the factors that led to the escalation of the conflict.
Putin added that if a peace agreement were reached, Russia would fully implement it, suggesting that in such a situation a Western military presence would be unnecessary.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin spokesman called the plan a "direct threat" to Russia and a serious provocation at a time when diplomacy has a chance to breathe.
Macron: "American support will be finalized soon"
At the end of the 35-nation “Coalition of the Willing” summit in Paris, President Macron confirmed that there would be a broad international commitment to Ukraine’s security in the post-war phase. He announced that US support was in the process of being finalized, adding that he had had a phone call with US President Donald Trump.
"The United States is involved in every step of this process. 26 countries have pledged to send troops to Ukraine to provide security guarantees, immediately after a ceasefire or a peace agreement is reached," Macron declared.
US towards air engagement, EU urged to ban Russian imports
President Trump has signaled that American participation is likely to come in the form of air assistance, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stressed the need for increased protection of his country's airspace.
During talks with coalition countries, Trump has also demanded that the European Union cooperate with the US to stop oil and gas imports from Russia, as part of economic pressure on Moscow.
