Putin Warns Western Troops In Ukraine Legitimate Targets

Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a stark warning that any Western troops deployed to Ukraine would be considered legitimate targets for Moscow's military, particularly during ongoing hostilities. This comes after a coalition of 26 countries, led by France and Britain, pledged to form a reassurance force to monitor any future peace agreement in Ukraine, covering operations by land, sea, and air. Putin argued that the presence of Western forces would not contribute to lasting peace and cited Ukraine's growing military ties with the West as a root cause of the conflict. Despite his threat, Putin indicated that if a lasting peace deal were reached, Russia would comply fully and see no need for foreign troops on Ukrainian soil. Ukrainian officials and Western allies remain skeptical of Russia’s commitments, given its history of breaking agreements, and emphasize the necessity of security guarantees backed by Western forces to prevent further Russian aggression. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has expressed support for providing air support to Ukraine and called for coordinated efforts to block Russian oil and gas imports to weaken Moscow's war capacity.