On Tuesday, Russia opposed the presence of troops from NATO countries in Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed the idea that NATO forces could act as peacekeepers under any ceasefire agreement, deeming it unacceptable.
Speaking to reporters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Lavrov stated, “The appearance of armed forces from the same countries, albeit under a foreign flag, under the flag of the European Union or under national flags, does not change anything in this regard. This is, of course, unacceptable to us.”
This stance comes as some European leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, have suggested deploying peacekeeping forces in Ukraine if an agreement is reached.
Russia has previously demanded that Ukraine cede control of large portions of its territory and abandon its ambition to join NATO—conditions that Kyiv has rejected.
Last week, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated that Ukraine joining NATO is not “a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement.”
Ukraine and Russia have been at war for nearly three years. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has announced plans to end the conflict between the two neighboring countries.
