Putin Warns European Peacekeepers in Ukraine Would Be Legitimate Targets

Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a stark warning on Friday, declaring that any Western peacekeeping forces deployed to Ukraine would be treated as “legitimate targets” by Moscow. His remarks came in response to a proposal by a coalition of Western nations to send international troops once a settlement to the ongoing war is reached.

Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Putin said the presence of foreign forces in Ukraine would not guarantee peace but instead escalate the conflict. “If some troops appear there, especially now during the fighting, we proceed from the premise that they will be legitimate targets,” he stated.

On Thursday, more than two dozen countries, led by France and Britain, announced readiness to dispatch a “reassurance force” to Ukraine. The plan envisions international peacekeepers patrolling and enforcing any future agreement designed to end the war. Ukrainian officials have insisted that foreign security guarantees are vital to prevent Russia from resuming hostilities once a ceasefire or peace deal is reached.

Putin, however, dismissed the proposal as counterproductive, arguing that Western involvement in Ukraine’s security remains one of the “root causes” of the conflict. He reiterated longstanding grievances about Kyiv’s deepening military ties with NATO and Western allies, which the Kremlin has repeatedly cited as justification for launching its full-scale invasion.

The warning underscores the growing risks surrounding international efforts to broker peace, as Russia signals it will not tolerate the presence of foreign troops on Ukrainian soil—even under the banner of peacekeeping.