The head of Russian diplomacy warns: European troops in Ukraine would be “legitimate targets” for Russia
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said any European military contingent deployed in Ukraine would be considered a “legitimate military target” by Russia, in a new signal of verbal escalation from Moscow as it stepped up diplomatic efforts to end the war.
Sergei Lavrov, head of Russian diplomacy/PHOTO: EPA/EFE
The statements were published by the state-run TASS news agency on Sunday, shortly before scheduled talks in Florida between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump to finalize details of a 20-point peace plan drawn up by US and Ukrainian officials.
Lavrov accused European states of “preparing for war” with Russia and being motivated by the ambition to inflict a “strategic defeat” on Moscow.
“The deployment of military contingents to Ukraine in the form of a coalition of the willing would clearly mean that these forces become legitimate targets for the Russian armed forces,” Lavrov said, echoing a position previously expressed by the Kremlin.
Mixed messages to Washington
At the same time, the head of Russian diplomacy appreciated the role of Donald Trump in the negotiation process and stated that Russia remains “committed” to working with the United States to find a political solution. However, he accused Kiev of trying to undermine the talks.
Earlier, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said the current peace plans were “radically different” from those previously discussed between Moscow and Washington and suggested Ukraine was trying to “torpedo” the process.
Lavrov also said that with the change of the American administration, the European Union would have become the “main obstacle” to peace, accusing European leaders of supporting Ukraine financially and militarily in the hope of weakening the Russian economy through sanctions.
Putin and the causes of war
Against the background of these statements, Western analysts point out that the debate on the “deep causes” of the conflict is often diverted. Timothy Ash, an economic strategist who specializes in emerging markets, says that the war cannot be explained by NATO expansion or an alleged military threat from Ukraine.
According to Ash, historical evidence indicates that prior to 2014, Ukrainian public support for NATO membership was low and the Ukrainian military had limited capabilities. Only after the annexation of Crimea and the outbreak of the conflict in Donbas did public opinion change significantly.
He claims that the Kremlin's main motivation lies in President Vladimir Putin's vision of Ukraine, expressed including in an essay published in 2021, in which the Russian leader questioned the legitimacy of Ukrainian statehood.
“This is not about NATO or an imminent military threat, but about the Kremlin's refusal to accept the existence of an independent and sovereign Ukraine,” says Ash.
Fears of a peace deal
Analysts warn that an eventual deal negotiated under pressure could leave Ukraine vulnerable to future attacks and destabilization. In their view, any deal that does not provide solid security guarantees risks creating the conditions for new conflict, not lasting peace.
In this context, Moscow's statements regarding European troops and intensifying anti-Western rhetoric are seen as part of a strategy of deterrence and diplomatic pressure.
As talks continue, it remains unclear whether current efforts can lead to a deal that will ensure long-term stability – both for Ukraine and for European security as a whole.
