The West’s gambit to formulate a postwar security plan for Ukraine has been met with a dangerous countermove from Moscow. President Vladimir Putin has unequivocally stated that any deployment of foreign troops in Ukraine would make them “legitimate targets for destruction,” a threat that dramatically raises the potential for a direct Russia-NATO confrontation.
This sharp rebuke from the Kremlin is aimed at a French-led proposal, which has garnered the support of 26 countries, to establish a military presence in Ukraine to deter future Russian aggression. According to President Macron, these guarantees would be deployed as soon as the war concludes, a vision shared by President Zelenskyy who anticipates a force of several thousand.
Putin’s threat, however, appears to be effective in sowing discord. European capitals are divided, with powerhouse nations like Germany and Italy refusing to commit troops, fearing the escalatory consequences. This has forced proponents of the plan to moderate their ambitions, shifting from a peacekeeping model to a more passive “reassurance” role far from the front.
Any such deployment remains entirely hypothetical, as it hinges on a peace agreement that is currently a distant dream. Diplomatic efforts have faltered, and the leaders of the warring nations are entrenched in their positions. Putin claims a deal is unachievable while offering a meeting in Moscow, a proposal Zelenskyy’s government views as a public relations stunt rather than a genuine step toward peace.