French president Emmanuel Macron had on Thursday hosted a 'coalition of the willing' on Ukraine in Paris, involving 26 nations which have declared readiness to get directly engaged in providing security guarantees for a post-war order.
The plan will reportedly be finalized with US approval, as American forces are sought to 'backstop' the plan, including possibly by air. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated in Friday comments that any Western troops in Ukraine would become legitimate targets, even in the scenario of enforcing a peace deal.
Speaking before the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Putin described that "The West’s dragging of Ukraine into NATO was one of the causes of the conflict. If any troops show up now, while the hostilities are ongoing, we would consider them legitimate military targets," according to state media translation.
"If decisions are made that result in long-term peace, then I simply see no sense in such a presence," he clarified further. "Nobody should doubt that Russia would implement the agreed terms fully. We will respect security guarantees that both Russia and Ukraine need to be offered.
