Putin Rejects Western Security Plan for Ukraine, Warns Foreign Troops Would Be Targets

MOSCOW, Sept 5: Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed Western proposals to send a “reassurance force” to Ukraine once a ceasefire is in place, warning that any foreign troops deployed would be considered legitimate targets.

The warning came a day after French President Emmanuel Macron announced that 26 of Ukraine’s allies had committed to providing security guarantees, including troop deployments “by land, sea, or air” immediately after fighting stops. Macron stressed the forces would not be sent to the front line but rather to deter “any new major aggression.”

Putin, speaking at an economic forum in Vladivostok, said Russia saw no reason for foreign troops in Ukraine if genuine peace talks could lead to long-term stability. “If decisions are reached that will lead to long-term peace, then I simply don’t see the point in their presence,” he said, adding that Russia would honor such agreements “in full.”

Ukraine and its allies remain skeptical. President Volodymyr Zelensky described the Paris summit’s decisions as the first concrete step toward stronger security for Kyiv. He has also pushed for “maximum protection of Ukraine’s skies,” noting recent talks with US President Donald Trump, who suggested that American support could “probably” come in the form of air power.

Putin offered to host peace talks in Moscow and guarantee security for participants, an idea Zelensky rejected as unserious. Several neutral cities have been floated as alternatives. Western leaders believe Moscow is stalling while seeking to capture more territory in Ukraine, where the war has entered its 40th month.

Despite brief optimism after a recent Alaska summit between Putin and Trump, hopes for a ceasefire remain distant. Meanwhile, Russia insists its forces are advancing on multiple fronts, even as Ukraine continues to push for firmer international security guarantees.