Russian deputy FM rules out NATO troop presence in Ukraine amid peace talks

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov has firmly rejected the deployment of NATO or other Western troops on Ukrainian soil, amid ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at ending Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022.

Speaking to ABC News, Ryabkov addressed one of Moscow’s key sticking points in the latest US-led peace initiative, which involves consultations with both Russian and Ukrainian representatives.

He stressed that Russia would not accept any arrangement that included foreign troops in Ukraine, even as part of a security guarantee or under the so-called “Coalition of the Willing,” a term used by a group of mostly European leaders.

“We are open-minded in terms of what decisions might be made. We definitely will not at any time subscribe to, agree to, or even be content with, any presence of NATO troops on Ukrainian territory," the senior diplomat said.

By Vafa Guliyeva