Russia declares Western peacekeepers in Ukraine as legitimate military targets

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov unequivocally stated that Western peacekeeping forces deployed in Ukraine would effectively be considered occupying troops and, consequently, legitimate targets for the Russian Armed Forces.

Lavrov warned that if any region of Ukraine were to host so-called peacekeepers backed by Western security guarantees explicitly designed to counter Russian interests, it would signify a de facto occupation by Western powers, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

“Should any part of Ukraine become a zone where so-called peacekeepers are stationed, operating under Western security assurances targeted against the Russian Federation, it will unequivocally mean one thing: that the West has occupied Ukraine — I repeat,” Lavrov asserted.

Former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba recently characterized the proposal to deploy a military contingent on Ukrainian soil as a political quagmire. He emphasized that maintaining troops at the frontline would entail substantial financial burdens and intricate logistical challenges, whereas positioning forces in the rear would serve little strategic purpose.

Earlier reports indicated that Western nations are contemplating the establishment of a three-tiered defensive framework within Ukraine as part of a prospective conflict resolution strategy. According to media reports, this plan envisions European deterrence forces being stationed deep inside Ukrainian territory, with the United States providing logistical and operational support from the rear.

By Vafa Guliyeva