Russia sees no possibility of reaching a compromise on the potential deployment of European peacekeepers in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday.
“We see no room for compromise. This discussion is being conducted with an openly hostile purpose. They are not hiding what they need it for,” Lavrov stated.
He made the comments following talks with Zimbabwean Foreign Minister Amon Murwira.
Lavrov added that if a foreign contingent were deployed in Ukraine, Western countries would not agree on the terms of peaceful resolution, as such a presence would create “facts on the ground.
“We will view the presence of these troops on Ukrainian soil the same way we viewed NATO’s potential presence in Ukraine,” Lavrov said.
He emphasised that no matter under which flags the operation was carried out, it would still involve NATO troops.
Lavrov also remarked that the possible deployment of European troops would not signify a hybrid war between Europe and Russia, but rather NATO’s direct involvement in the conflict.
“Especially after French President Emmanuel Macron’s nervous statement Wednesday that Russia is a threat,” Lavrov said. “So, if it is a threat, then troops should be sent against this threat.”
The U.S. commented on reports regarding the deployment of troops, stating that any such action, especially under the guise of peacekeeping, would require agreement from both parties involved in the conflict.
Lavrov also noted that neither Macron nor UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer had mentioned such an agreement.
In January, The Telegraph reported that Starmer and Macron had begun discussions on sending a peacekeeping force to Ukraine after a potential peace deal.
The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) estimated that the West could deploy about 100,000 troops in Ukraine under the pretext of a peacekeeping mission to restore combat capability.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov added that peacekeepers could only be deployed with the consent of all parties involved.(RIA/NAN)
