Russia claims it will consider any troops sent to Ukraine by Western countries to be "legitimate military targets," Reuters reports. This comes amid peace talks and specifically security guarantees for Ukraine, which it opposes.
Recently, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has stated that France and Britain are prepared to establish military hubs in Ukraine following a ceasefire. These structures are expected to focus on training Ukrainian troops and providing support, rather than engaging in combat operations.
Russia will consider foreign troops in a sovereign country as "foreign intervention"
In its latest statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry emphasizes that the deployment on Ukrainian territory of military units, bases, warehouses, or other military infrastructure belonging to Western countries would be classified as foreign intervention.
Moscow claims that such a presence allegedly poses a direct threat to the security of Russia and other European states.
“All such units and facilities will be regarded as legitimate military targets of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation,” it said.
Russia speaks of an "axis of war"
Moscow also claimed that what it called the "militaristic" statements by Ukraine and the so-called Coalition of the Willing allegedly form a "real axis of war."
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Western plans are becoming increasingly dangerous and destructive for Europe’s future, while European citizens are allegedly being forced to finance these decisions out of their own pockets.
The Kremlin’s rhetoric once again demonstrates that Russia views even a non-combat presence of Western partners in Ukraine as a pretext for escalation, seeking to deter any formats of international support for Kyiv.
