Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Friday that any Western forces deployed to Ukraine would be a “legitimate” target for Moscow’s army, a day after Kyiv’s allies said they had committed to a troop presence in the event of a peace deal.
“If some troops appear there, especially now during the fighting, we proceed from the premise that they will be legitimate targets,” Putin said at an economic forum in the far eastern city of Vladivostok.
He added that the deployment of such a force was not conducive to long-term peace and said Ukraine’s closer military ties with the West were one of what he calls the “root causes” of the conflict.
Putin further argued that “if decisions are reached that lead to peace, to long-term peace, then I simply do not see any sense in their presence on the territory of Ukraine, full stop,” as he insisted Russia would “comply” with any agreement reached “in full.”
🚨 BREAKING: Russia will consider any troops in Ukraine as LEGITIMATE TARGETS – Putin warns Western leaders pic.twitter.com/NBlGbS6SwG
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) September 5, 2025
Earlier on Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron said 26 of Ukraine’s allies had formally committed to deploying troops “by land, sea or air” to help provide security the moment fighting was brought to a halt.
“We have today 26 countries who have formally committed — some others have not yet taken a position — to deploy as a ‘reassurance force’ troops in Ukraine, or be present on the ground, in the sea, or in the air,” Macron told reporters on Thursday, standing alongside Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky.
He did not detail any of the countries involved.
Meanwhile, the Russian strongman said Moscow remains open to economic cooperation with the United States, and American businesses could benefit from joint projects if Washington allows it.
“The two-headed eagle, one of our national symbols, looks both ways,” Putin said, referencing Russia’s coat of arms. “Did we turn our backs on anyone? We did not. The eagle looks both ways just like always.”
Putin stated US companies have expressed an interest in projects and proposed joint natural gas production in Alaska.
Russia never turned its back on the US – Putin
Alaska and the Arctic could be developed jointly by the nations, the president has said
Moscow remains open to economic cooperation with the United States, and American businesses could benefit from joint projects if Washington… pic.twitter.com/IwCNY9rdpl— Mark Brewer (@theapril29th) September 5, 2025
“They have resources, and we have extraction and liquefaction technologies that are significantly more efficient than what our American partners have,” he addressed the Eastern Economic Forum.
Putin added American and Russian companies are eager to cooperate, should the US government give the green light.
Source: Agencies (edited by Al-Manar)
