Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a stern warning against the deployment of foreign troops on Ukrainian soil. Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Putin reaffirmed Moscow's rejection of Ukraine joining NATO and emphasised that any foreign military presence during ongoing conflicts could become legitimate targets for destruction.
Putin highlighted the challenges of reaching key agreements with Ukraine to end the ongoing war, which started in February 2022. He stated that Russia is open to implementing agreements if mutually reached, but expressed doubts about the feasibility of such deals.
He clarified that while NATO membership for Ukraine is unacceptable to Russia, the country&rsquo;s aspiration to join the European Union is recognised as a legitimate choice. Putin stressed that peace guarantees should protect both Russia and Ukraine, and foreign deployments during conflict would be opposed.
The remarks follow proposals by European nations to provide security guarantees to Ukraine after a potential peace settlement, focusing on peacekeeping roles rather than active combat involvement.
[Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed]
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Russian President Putin rejects NATO membership for Ukraine, warns forces are targets

Putin Warns Against Foreign Troops in Ukraine

Russian President Putin rejects NATO membership for Ukraine, warns forces are targets

September 5, 2025 | 19:58 IST