Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected Western proposals to send a “reassurance force” to Ukraine after any future ceasefire, warning that foreign troops would become “legitimate targets.”
The warning came just a day after a Paris summit where French President Emmanuel Macron announced that 26 of Ukraine’s allies had agreed to provide security guarantees once fighting stops. He said troops could be deployed “by land, sea or air,” though he did not name the countries involved.
Putin quickly moved to shut down the idea, saying that if Western soldiers set foot in Ukraine even now, before any deal they would be targeted. For now, a ceasefire looks unlikely. Hopes briefly rose after last month’s Alaska meeting between Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, but negotiations with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky remain stalled.
“I am ready for contact with the Ukrainian leader,” Putin said Friday. “But I don’t see much point. It is nearly impossible to reach agreement with the Ukrainian side on key issues.”
His spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, praised Trump’s “constructive efforts” to find a solution but accused European nations of “provoking continuation of the war.”
Western Allies Push Security Guarantees
Since the Alaska talks, the U.K. and France have spearheaded efforts to create a coalition to back Ukraine with both military support and a reassurance force. Macron stressed that the force would not fight Russia directly, but would guard against “any new major aggression.”
Zelensky called the Paris agreements “the first concrete step.” The U.S. has not clarified the scale of its role, though Trump has hinted that Washington could “probably” provide air support. Zelensky said he also asked Trump for “maximum protection for Ukraine’s skies.”
Trump said he was maintaining a “very good dialogue” with Putin, who also confirmed ongoing talks with the U.S. president.
Kyiv, however, insists that a ceasefire must come before broader peace talks something Moscow rejects. Speaking at an economic forum in Vladivostok, Putin argued that foreign troops would be unnecessary if long-term peace were secured.
Disputes Over Peace Talks
Putin has suggested holding a summit with Zelensky in Moscow, offering security guarantees. But Zelensky dismissed the idea as unserious, calling it a stalling tactic. Several neutral capitals have been floated instead, though Putin complained of “excessive demands.”
Western leaders believe Moscow is dragging out talks to buy time on the battlefield. Russia’s war in Ukraine has stretched past 42 months, with Putin claiming his forces are advancing “on all fronts.”
At the same time, Moscow has demanded to be included as a guarantor of Ukraine’s future security an idea flatly rejected by Kyiv and its allies.
Peskov told the BBC that any NATO or non-NATO forces in Ukraine would be a “danger” to Russia, which he called “an enemy of NATO.” NATO chief Mark Rutte hit back Thursday, saying: “Why are we interested in what Russia thinks? Ukraine is a sovereign country. It’s not for them to decide.”
Divided Commitments
So far, few countries have openly committed troops on the ground, with Washington already ruling out such a move. European diplomats worry that such promises now could play into Putin’s narrative.
Even so, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Western allies have made an “unbreakable pledge” to Ukraine, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stressed the priority is to secure a ceasefire before adding “strong security guarantees.”
Putin himself has sent mixed signals saying there is “light at the end of the tunnel” but blaming Ukraine’s conditions, including referendums on territory and the lifting of martial law, for blocking progress. Russia currently controls Crimea fully but only partially holds four other annexed regions.
Ceasefire First or Peace First?
The West continues to push for an immediate ceasefire, even without a full peace deal, pointing to examples like the Korean Peninsula, where a decades-long ceasefire still holds. But Russia insists its campaign will not stop until a final settlement is reached.
For now, Putin shows no sign of backing down especially with Western troops potentially entering the picture.
