Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected Western proposals for a reassurance force in Ukraine the day after any ceasefire comes into place, following a Paris summit aimed at finalizing plans for security guarantees.
French President Emmanuel Macron said 26 of Ukraine's allies had formally committed to deploying troops by land, sea or air to help provide security the moment fighting was brought to a halt, although he did not detail the specific countries involved.
Putin aimed to quash this initiative by warning that any troops deployed to Ukraine would be legitimate targets, particularly if they appeared before agreements were finalized.
Discussing the current situation during an economic forum in Vladivostok, Putin remarked, 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 added that Russia would comply with any decisions leading to such peace.
However, he expressed doubt that an agreement could be reached with Ukrainian leadership, citing difficulty in negotiating on key issues. His spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, also criticized the outrageous efforts of European countries to provoke continuation of the war.
Despite indications of a potential ceasefire, recent summits have resulted in skepticism from Moscow, with Putin claiming foreign troops would be a danger to Russia due to NATO's antagonism.
As tensions continue, Ukraine and its allies maintain that establishing a ceasefire must precede any broader peace effort, with Western leaders affirming their commitment to support Ukraine in achieving its security goals.
