Putin Says Foreign Troops in Ukraine Before Peace Deal Would Be 'Legitimate Targets'

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that any foreign troops deployed to Ukraine before a peace agreement has been signed would be considered "legitimate targets" by Moscow's forces, raising the prospect of direct conflict with outside forces amid discussions about a possible peacekeeping mission.

Putin made the remark during a panel at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, hours after European leaders repledged their commitment to a potential peacekeeping force for Ukraine — a prospect Moscow has repeatedly described as unacceptable. "If any troops appear there, especially now while fighting is ongoing, we assume that they will be legitimate targets," he said.

Putin also dismissed the notion of deploying peacekeepers only after a final peace deal, saying "no one should doubt" that Moscow would comply with a treaty to halt its 3½-year full-scale invasion of Ukraine. He added that any settlement would need security guarantees for both Russia and Ukraine.

The Kremlin later amplified the demand for formal instruments to ensure those guarantees. Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow would require "legally binding documents" to outline such agreements and added, "Of course, you can't just take anybody's word for something," in remarks to Russian outlet Argumenty i Fakty.

Moscow has repeatedly signaled opposition to foreign forces on Ukrainian soil unless their presence is governed by terms acceptable to Russia. European leaders have discussed the possible role of an international peacekeeping mission as part of broader diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, but details have remained disputed, including the mission's mandate, composition and deployment conditions.

Putin's comments underscore the risks inherent in any move by outside powers to send military personnel into an active combat zone without an agreed cease-fire. They also highlight a key area of contention in potential negotiations: whether international forces could be deployed safely and under what legal framework, and how Moscow and Kyiv would trust such arrangements.

The statements add to a tense diplomatic backdrop as officials and leaders in Europe and elsewhere weigh options for supporting Ukraine while avoiding escalation with Russia. Any proposal for peacekeepers would face immediate objections from Moscow if implemented before a formal, mutually accepted cessation of hostilities and a signed treaty spelling out enforceable guarantees.