At the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok on September 5, President Vladimir Putin issued a stark warning: any Western military forces deployed to Ukraine would immediately become “legitimate targets” for Russian strikes. His remarks come just one day after French President Emmanuel Macron revealed that 26 countries including France and Britain had pledged to contribute to a “reassurance force” intended to support security in Ukraine post-conflict.
Putin asserted that deploying such troops “especially now, during military operations,” would justify Russian military action. He added that if a peace agreement were to be secured, the presence of foreign troops would no longer be necessary, suggesting that Russia would have no objection if a long-term peace is established.
Western officials have framed the reassurance force as a non-combat peacekeeping mission to help enforce any future ceasefire. However, Putin dismissed the idea, labeling such deployments as provocative and counterproductive to lasting peace. He reiterated Russia’s longstanding claim that NATO’s expansion toward its borders was a root cause of the conflict.
Amid growing international efforts to formalize post-war architecture for Ukraine, including possible security guarantees, Putin’s declaration serves as a clear red line, escalating geopolitical tensions and complicating Western plans to ensure Kyiv’s long-term stability.
