Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has expressed strong opposition to the presence of troops from NATO countries in Ukraine, even if they were to be there as peacekeepers under their national flags or the European Union flag. Lavrov stated that such a scenario would be deemed 'unacceptable' by Russia, emphasizing their firm stance against Ukraine joining NATO.
During a news conference, Lavrov made it clear that Russia had communicated its disapproval to the United States, highlighting that the deployment of armed forces from NATO countries, even under different flags, would not alter their position. Lavrov firmly stated, 'This is, of course, unacceptable to us.'
European leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, have suggested the idea of deploying peacekeeping forces in Ukraine as part of a potential ceasefire agreement. However, Russia's stance remains unwavering in rejecting any foreign military presence in Ukraine.
Russia has previously set conditions for Ukraine, demanding the relinquishment of control over significant portions of its territory and the abandonment of its aspirations to join NATO. These conditions have been met with resistance from Kyiv, which has refused to comply.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also weighed in on the matter, stating that Ukraine becoming a member of NATO is not a feasible outcome through diplomatic negotiations. The complexities surrounding Ukraine's geopolitical alignment continue to be a point of contention among global powers.
