Foreign troops in Ukraine 'legitimate targets for destruction': Putin
3 Min Read
Security guarantees for Russia and Ukraine remain disputed as leaders set conditions for future peace, while the Kremlin signals openness to further dialogue with Washington.
-
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky gives a press conference in Kiev on February 19, 2025 (AP)
Post-conflict security guarantees must be developed for both Russia and Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday during a plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok.
“If agreements are reached, let no one doubt that Russia will implement them in full. And we will respect those security guarantees, which, of course, must be worked out for both Russia and Ukraine,” Putin stated.
The Russian leader added that no party has yet raised the issue of guarantees with Moscow at a serious level. He also warned that the presence of foreign military personnel in Ukraine would remain unacceptable, calling such troops “legitimate targets for destruction” during ongoing hostilities.
Zelensky: Guarantees must begin before fighting ends
On his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking at the Cernobbio Economic Forum in Italy on September 5, urged that security guarantees for Ukraine be implemented immediately, without waiting for a ceasefire.
His comments came a day after the “Coalition of the Willing” summit, where he and European leaders discussed a multinational reassurance force, along with commitments of weapons, logistics, and training.
“The first step to ending any war is a ceasefire,” Zelensky said. “If pressure increases, not decreases… if there are security guarantees and sanctions, this will naturally push Putin in the right direction.”
He stressed that guarantees must cover not only military aid but also economic assurances, amid warnings that without binding commitments, Russia could regroup and renew its offensive.
French President Emmanuel Macron stated after the Paris summit that 26 countries were prepared to send troops or provide other support, though only after a ceasefire is reached.
However, Moscow has firmly rejected the idea of foreign contingents in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said such forces would be incapable of ensuring Kiev’s security.
Kremlin: Second round of Putin-Trump talks possible
Amid the debates over security guarantees, the Kremlin signaled that a second round of talks between President Putin and Trump could take place soon.
“Of course, it is possible. I have no doubt that if the presidents consider it necessary, their meeting can be organized very quickly. Just as the meeting in Alaska was organized quickly,” Peskov told AiF in an interview.
He confirmed that working-level contacts remain ongoing between Moscow and Washington.
Peskov also addressed speculation that Russia is “turning eastward” in response to strained relations with the West.
“Russia is not going to turn around anywhere. That would be a mistake. It was actually in the East,” he said, underlining Moscow’s longstanding view of itself as a Eurasian power.
