Russia Warns Western Forces in Ukraine Would Be ‘Legitimate Combat Targets’

Russia Threatens Western Forces in Ukraine as Post-War Security Deal Takes Shape

Russia issued a stark warning Thursday that any Western military forces deployed to Ukraine under a post-war security arrangement would be considered “legitimate combat targets,” escalating tensions over a newly signed Paris declaration that outlines security guarantees for Kyiv.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, in a statement posted on the ministry’s Telegram channel, condemned the declaration backed by Ukraine, the United States and several European allies. She claimed the document was not aimed at peace but rather at further militarizing Ukraine and intensifying the conflict.

“All such units and facilities will be considered as legitimate combat targets of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation,” Zakharova said, specifically objecting to provisions calling for a multinational force and continued military support for Ukraine’s armed forces.

“These warnings have been voiced more than once at the highest level and remain relevant,” she added.

The declaration, signed in Paris earlier this week, represents a significant step in Western commitments to Ukraine’s long-term security. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Monday that the UK and France had signed a declaration of intent to deploy forces to Ukraine following any peace agreement, including plans to establish military hubs and facilities for storing weapons and equipment after a ceasefire.

“It paves the way for the legal framework under which British, French and partner forces could operate on Ukrainian soil – securing Ukraine’s skies and seas – and regenerating Ukraine’s armed forces for the future,” Starmer told reporters at a press conference after the Coalition of the Willing meeting in Paris.

The security framework includes three key components: participation in U.S.-led monitoring and verification of any ceasefire, support for long-term provision of armaments for Ukraine’s defense, and working toward binding commitments to support Ukraine in case of future Russian aggression.

This security arrangement represents a significant evolution in Western support for Ukraine. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, NATO countries have provided billions in military aid while carefully avoiding direct military involvement that could trigger a wider conflict with nuclear-armed Russia.

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff stated on social media platform X that negotiators had made significant progress on a bilateral security guarantee framework and a prosperity plan for Ukraine, emphasizing that “durable security guarantees are essential to a lasting peace.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed optimism about the process, saying on Thursday that the document on security guarantees for Ukraine is essentially “ready for finalization at the highest level with the President of the United States.”

“Complex issues from the basic framework for ending the war were also addressed, and the Ukrainian side presented possible options for finalizing this document,” Zelenskyy said. “We understand that the American side will engage with Russia, and we expect feedback on whether the aggressor is genuinely willing to end the war.”

The Paris declaration comes amid continuing efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict, which has entered its fourth year with no clear end in sight. Military analysts suggest Russia has been making incremental gains in eastern Ukraine in recent months, while Ukraine has struggled with manpower shortages and delays in Western military aid.

The security guarantees being discussed would represent a significant long-term commitment from Western nations, potentially addressing a key Ukrainian concern about vulnerability to future Russian aggression once fighting stops. However, Moscow’s latest warning indicates that any such arrangement would face fierce opposition from the Kremlin, complicating peace negotiations.

As diplomatic efforts continue, the battle lines in eastern Ukraine remain largely static, with both sides suffering heavy casualties in what has become Europe’s largest land war since World War II.