Russia threatens to target any foreign military contingents in Ukraine

Russia has warned that any foreign military forces deployed in Ukraine would be treated as legitimate military targets, including any multinational contingents.

Speaking at a briefing, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova referred to a declaration of intent signed on January 6 during a meeting of the “coalition of the willing” in Paris, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media.

She said the document was signed by French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and envisages the deployment of multinational forces in Ukraine. Zakharova described these forces as Western occupation troops.

She cautioned that if plans to deploy such forces were implemented, responsibility for the safety and lives of British nationals would rest entirely with the government in London. She reiterated that Russia’s position remained unchanged, stressing that any foreign military contingent on Ukrainian territory would be regarded as a legitimate target for the Russian Armed Forces, and that British troops would not be treated as an exception.

Zakharova also argued that the United Kingdom was fully aware that such a scenario would be unacceptable to Russia. She claimed that London was using the proposal as a means to undermine peace efforts involving the United States and to prolong the conflict, which she said would result in continued fighting at the expense of Ukrainian lives.

By Sabina Mammadli