Putin to the West: There Will Be No Peacekeepers, Only Targets

Vladimir Putin has delivered a stark message to the West regarding its plans for Ukraine: there will be no peacekeepers, only targets. His declaration that any foreign troops would be “legitimate targets for destruction” is a complete rejection of any international military presence in the country.
The message is a direct response to a 26-nation initiative, championed by France, to deploy a security force in Ukraine after the war. This has been a key hope for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Putin’s statement, however, reframes any such force not as peacekeepers, but as hostile combatants.
The Kremlin’s position is intended to make any such deployment impossible. By threatening to attack them, Putin is forcing Western nations to confront the reality that their soldiers would be entering an active war zone, not a post-conflict environment. This has already led several countries to refuse to participate.
This stance is a reflection of the complete breakdown of the peace process. Without a negotiated settlement, there is no “peace” to keep. The situation remains a live conflict, and Putin’s words are a grim reminder of that reality.