Putin rejects Western troop plans in Ukraine, warns forces would be targeted

Russian President Vladimir Putin has firmly rejected Western proposals to deploy a “reassurance force” in Ukraine once any ceasefire is in place, cautioning that foreign troops would become “legitimate targets.”

The statement follows a Paris summit where French President Emmanuel Macron said 26 of Ukraine’s allies had pledged to provide military support by land, sea, or air to secure a halt in fighting. Macron did not specify which countries would be involved.

Putin dismissed the idea, saying any foreign troops on Ukrainian soil would be considered a danger to Russia.

“If decisions are reached that will lead… to long-term peace, then I simply don’t see the point in [foreign troops'] presence [in Ukraine],” he told an economic forum in Vladivostok.

The announcement casts doubt on prospects for a ceasefire. Since a high-profile meeting in Alaska last month between Putin and US President Donald Trump, hopes for a peace deal with Ukraine have remained slim.

Putin said he was willing to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky but added, “I do not see much point. Why? Because it is nearly impossible to reach agreement with the Ukrainian side on key issues.”

Trump has maintained he is “having a very good dialogue” with Putin and expects further talks. Putin confirmed an “open dialogue” with the American president and praised Trump’s “very constructive efforts” to resolve the conflict, while criticizing European nations for pushing the war to continue.

Following the Alaska talks, the “Coalition of the Willing,” led by the UK and France, has worked on security guarantees for Kyiv in the event of a deal.

Macron emphasized that any deployed troops would not be at the front line or aiming to attack Russia but to prevent “any new major aggression.” Zelensky welcomed the Paris meeting’s decisions as a first concrete step, noting that thousands of foreign troops could eventually be deployed, though he called it too early for specifics.

Ukraine insists a ceasefire must come first, but Russia disagrees. Moscow also wants to play a role as a guarantor of Ukrainian security, a proposal rejected by Kyiv and its allies.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte reinforced that Russia has no veto over foreign troops entering Ukraine, saying, “Why are we interested in what Russia thinks about troops in Ukraine? It's a sovereign country. It's not for them to decide.”

Western leaders are concerned Russia may be buying time to capture more territory. Putin, who met with China’s Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un this week, says the Russian military is advancing on all fronts in Ukraine.

Despite recent comments about a “certain light at the end of the tunnel,” he expressed doubts about a deal, citing Ukraine’s demands for referendums and lifting martial law. Russia currently controls Crimea fully and has illegally annexed four other territories.

UK Defence Secretary John Healey praised Trump for facilitating dialogue with Putin, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the priority is a ceasefire followed by strong security guarantees.

The West continues to debate the deployment of troops, mindful that committing forces too early could fuel Moscow’s narrative.