Russia's foreign ministry responded Thursday to British plans to deploy troops in Ukraine after a ceasefire. Moscow claims such a move would extend the conflict rather than end it, warning foreign soldiers would be considered legitimate targets.
MOSCOW – A top Russian official warned Thursday that Britain’s plan to station troops in Ukraine following any ceasefire agreement would actually extend the conflict rather than bring it to a close.
Maria Zakharova, who serves as Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman, made the statement in response to recent announcements from both France and Britain regarding their intentions to deploy military personnel to Ukraine after hostilities with Russia cease.
In a recent newspaper column, British Defence Minister John Healey expressed his desire to oversee such a deployment, writing: “I want to be the defence secretary who deploys British troops to Ukraine – because this will mean that this war is finally over.”
However, Zakharova directly challenged this assessment during a briefing with reporters. “Contrary to Healey’s misconception, the deployment of British troops to Ukraine will not mean the end of the war, but rather a prolongation of the conflict and an increase in the risk of a large-scale military confrontation involving many more states,” she stated.
The spokeswoman also reiterated Moscow’s previous stance that Russia would consider any international military forces stationed in Ukraine as valid military targets.
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