Russia’s president Vladimir Putin has disregarded Western peacemakers’ proposal for a “reassurance force” in Ukraine the day after any armistice happens, following a Paris summit targeted at concluding plans for security guarantees.
A partnership of more than two dozen countries led by France and Britain made the pronouncement on Thursday, saying they were prepared to send a “reassurance force” to Ukraine to monitor and implement any subsequent peace agreement.
Ukraine has maintained that foreign forces and security assurances are important to stop Russia from attacking the nation again.
In a statement, Putin said, “If some troops appear there, especially now during the fighting, we proceed from the premise that they will be legitimate targets.”
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The president argued that such a setup would retard rather than secure a lasting peace.
He restated his stance that Ukraine’s heightened army ties with the people of the Western part were among the “root causes” of the dispute, accounting for Putin’s grievances that led him to launch the full-scale invasion.
On Friday Putin said that any settlement should be enough to preserve Russia and its neighbors at peace, rejecting the idea of Western peacemakers completely.
He noted that, “If decisions are reached that will lead to peace, to long-term peace, then I simply don’t see the point in their presence on the territory of Ukraine. Because if deals are reached, let no one doubt that Russia will comply with them in full.”
