MOSCOW — Russia has warned that any foreign troops deployed to Ukraine under a proposed “coalition of the willing” would be treated as legitimate military targets, escalating its rhetoric against Western involvement in the conflict.
Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized discussions about deploying multinational forces to Ukraine, following comments by French President Emmanuel Macron supporting the idea.
Zakharova said Moscow considers the presence of foreign military contingents in Ukraine unacceptable, arguing that such a move would constitute direct foreign intervention and pose a significant threat to Russia’s national security.
She warned that any foreign forces stationed in Ukraine under the proposed coalition would be viewed as legitimate military targets by the Russian military.
The Russian Foreign Ministry also blamed continued Western military assistance to Kyiv for prolonging the conflict. Zakharova argued that ongoing arms deliveries remain one of the main obstacles to achieving a negotiated settlement.
Citing previous remarks by former EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, she claimed the conflict could end if Western countries halted military support for Ukraine. She further accused European governments of pursuing confrontation rather than genuine peace efforts.
Zakharova also alleged that Western-supplied weapons had been used in attacks against Russian civilians and claimed that some of those arms had entered illegal international markets, including in Europe, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. She did not provide evidence to support the allegation.
Separately, the Russian official criticized recent military exercises conducted by Poland near the borders of Russia and Belarus, describing the drills as a provocative display of military strength. She accused Warsaw of attempting to reinforce its position as NATO’s leading power on the alliance’s eastern flank.
The latest remarks reflect continued tensions between Russia and Western allies as discussions over future security guarantees and military support for Ukraine remain at the center of international diplomacy.
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