•Moscow Reiterates Warning Against Foreign Military Presence Amid Ongoing Conflict
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Russia has firmly rejected any deployment of NATO troops in Ukraine, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov declaring such a move “completely unacceptable.”
His statement followed high-level talks between Russian and U.S. officials in Riyadh, where both sides agreed to initiate steps toward resolving the ongoing conflict.
Diplomatic Talks in Riyadh Exclude Ukraine and EU
The meeting in Saudi Arabia was held without the participation of Ukrainian or European Union representatives, a point of contention for Kiev, which has insisted it will not recognize any agreement reached in its absence.
Despite the absence of direct Ukrainian involvement, the discussions signaled a rare diplomatic engagement between Washington and Moscow.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Lavrov emphasized that any NATO military presence in Ukraine, whether under the EU flag or as part of national contingents, would be considered an unacceptable provocation by Moscow.
The Russian Foreign Ministry had previously warned that the introduction of foreign forces would be perceived as an escalation and could trigger serious consequences.
EU and NATO Divided Over Military Deployment
The idea of deploying Western troops to Ukraine has been under discussion in Europe for months, with French President Emmanuel Macron among the leading voices advocating for the possibility.
Since February, he has repeatedly suggested that military personnel could be sent as part of a broader effort to support Ukraine.
However, this proposal has sparked division among EU leaders. According to the Financial Times, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Spain have expressed reluctance to send peacekeeping forces, reflecting broader hesitations within NATO regarding direct involvement.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has emphasized the need for NATO unity but dismissed questions about Berlin’s potential troop commitments as “premature.”
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer signaled the UK’s willingness to provide security guarantees to Ukraine, including the possibility of deploying British troops.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Starmer reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to supporting Kiev, though he stopped short of announcing any definitive military action.
US Rules Out Troop Deployment, Prompting European Response
In a significant policy shift, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ruled out deploying American troops to Ukraine as part of any security guarantee.
Washington’s decision prompted an emergency meeting among European NATO allies, convened by Macron in an attempt to establish a unified EU stance.
However, the meeting failed to produce any concrete agreements, exposing internal divisions over the extent of Western military involvement.
Ukraine’s Growing Demand for Foreign Military Support
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has been vocal in his calls for increased foreign military support.
In January, he proposed the deployment of at least 200,000 foreign troops as peacekeepers to help enforce a potential settlement with Russia.
More recently, he revealed in an interview with American podcaster Lex Fridman that Ukraine currently has 980,000 military personnel in service.
Last week, Zelensky escalated his demands, urging Western allies to support an increase in Ukraine’s armed forces to 1.5 million soldiers—a move that would require a significant boost in foreign financial and logistical assistance.
Moscow’s Stark Warning
Russia has repeatedly warned that any unauthorized military presence in Ukraine would be treated as a hostile act.
The Kremlin has stated that “any contingent entering the territory of Ukraine without the consent and permission of Russia is a military target, with quite understandable consequences.”
As tensions persist, NATO and EU leaders remain divided on how far they are willing to go in supporting Ukraine militarily.
With diplomatic efforts underway but no clear resolution in sight, the risk of further escalation remains high.
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