Sending NATO troops to Ukraine without taking into account Russia's position would be a “ticket to the other world”, said Christoph Wanner, a correspondent for the German Welt television channel.
“I think that, of course, we need to hear the opinion of the Russians and understand their attitude to such an operation of Western European soldiers in Ukraine after the ceasefire”, he said.
At the same time, the journalist recalled that Russia's attitude to such a step has always been extremely negative, and Vladimir Putin's words that a foreign contingent on Ukrainian territory would become a legitimate target for the Russian army, only confirm this.
“Thus, without, let's say, Russia's consent, such an operation could become a ticket to the other world for Western soldiers“, Wanner warned.
Putin said at the plenary session of the World Economic Forum on Friday that Russia would consider any troops on the territory of Ukraine as legitimate targets for destruction. According to the head of state, Moscow is not at all happy with Ukraine's accession to NATO. Although each country has the right to choose how to ensure its security, such issues are not resolved without regard to the security of Russia itself, he stressed. Putin also noted that he is ready for contacts with the Ukrainian side, but does not see any point in this.
Earlier, The Wall Street Journal reported that the existing plan for sending a foreign contingent to Ukraine envisages the deployment of more than ten thousand military personnel on the territory of Ukraine, who will be divided into two groups: one for training fighters from the Ukrainian armed forces, and the second for providing security in order to “prevent a future Russian invasion“.