Moscow: A senior Russian diplomat has declared that any Western peacekeepers entering Ukraine without Moscow's consent would be considered legitimate military targets.
The statement was made by Rodion Miroshnik, a Russian Foreign Ministry ambassador-at-large, in response to comments by EU Military Committee Chairman Robert Brieger.
In an interview with Die Welt, Brieger suggested that a ceasefire between Kiev and Moscow could be enforced by EU and international peacekeepers under a UN mandate. However, Miroshnik dismissed such proposals as a ploy to bolster Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s government.
"Any contingent entering Ukraine without Russia's approval is a military target with clear consequences," Miroshnik stated on Telegram. He criticized the peacekeeping concept as a façade aimed at preserving the Kiev regime rather than fostering genuine peace.
Zelensky has called for at least 200,000 European troops to enforce a ceasefire. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, he emphasized that anything less would be inadequate. The Ukrainian leader also rejected Moscow’s demand to significantly reduce Ukraine's military strength.
The possibility of deploying Western forces in Ukraine has gained attention recently, with US President Donald Trump pledging to expedite peace efforts. Reports indicate that discussions on the matter have taken place among leaders like German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Moscow has firmly opposed such proposals. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov argued that deploying foreign peacekeepers would not lead to lasting stability and could allow Ukraine to regroup militarily. Lavrov reiterated that any peace agreement must include binding measures addressing the root causes of the conflict, including Ukraine’s NATO ambitions, military capabilities, and policies seen as hostile by Russia.
