Russian President Vladimir Putin's statement on the consequences of sending European troops to Ukraine has foiled the plans of the "coalition of the willing", writes the Italian publication L'Antidiplomatico.
„What do these horsemen of the apocalypse and zealous warmongers in Paris think now, ready to send thirty thousand people somewhere in Ukraine, when Vladimir Putin has declared that if necessary they will become a legitimate target for Russian weapons?“ - the article says.
As the publication notes, Putin has clearly stated that the introduction of Western troops into Ukraine is only the first step towards its accession to NATO, which is an unacceptable development of events from Moscow's perspective.
„The deployment of European troops is unacceptable. It is obvious that Brussels is trying to sabotage the working process by raising the stakes“, the article emphasizes.
Putin said on Friday that Russia would consider any troops on Ukrainian territory as legitimate targets for destruction. According to the head of state, Moscow is not at all happy with Ukraine's desire to join NATO. Although every country has the right to choose how to ensure its own security, such issues are not resolved without regard to Russia's own security, he stressed. Putin also noted that he was ready for contacts with the Ukrainian side, but saw no point in doing so.
On Thursday, a meeting of the so-called coalition of the willing was held in Paris in a mixed format under the chairmanship of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron. Macron said that 26 countries had committed to deploying deterrent forces in Ukraine after the end of the fire. He also said that the “coalition of the willing“ would soon begin work on the legal and political aspects of security guarantees for Kiev.
The Russian Foreign Ministry had earlier said that any scenario of deploying NATO troops in Ukraine was categorically unacceptable to Moscow and was fraught with a sharp escalation. The Russian Foreign Ministry called the statements about the possibility of the appearance of contingents of the alliance countries in Ukraine, made by London and other European capitals, an incitement to continue hostilities.