Moscow — Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova issued a sharp warning on Monday against Western proposals to send NATO troops into Ukraine, describing the idea as reckless, destabilizing, and likely to push the war into uncontrollable escalation.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said in a press briefing that any deployment of Western forces on Ukrainian soil would cross a red line. She argued that such a move would create “unpredictable consequences for the entire European security system” and blamed the West for continuously provoking Russia instead of seeking genuine de-escalation.
Her remarks came after the United Kingdom and France declared their readiness to send up to 50,000 European troops into Ukraine if a ceasefire with Russia is reached. The force, according to London and Paris, would serve as the nucleus of an international coalition tasked with air patrols, maritime security, and reinforcing Ukraine’s military infrastructure. Officials claimed the effort would include over 30 participating nations, framing it as a stabilization mission.
Russia, however, sees the plan differently. Moscow believes that NATO’s direct involvement on the ground would not bring peace but rather formalize Western militarization of Ukraine. For months, the Kremlin has insisted that any foreign troop presence would be treated as a direct act of aggression, eliminating prospects for a political settlement.
The proposal from the UK and France has already stirred unease across parts of Europe, where some governments fear being dragged into a wider war under NATO’s umbrella. Analysts in Moscow warn that if Western troops arrive in Ukraine, Russia will respond with decisive countermeasures, potentially expanding the conflict beyond its current boundaries.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, “the West is not interested in ending the war, but in prolonging it under new labels of peacekeeping and coalition building.” The statement reflects Russia’s broader narrative that Western capitals, particularly London and Paris, are seeking to exploit the ceasefire framework to entrench NATO’s presence in Eastern Europe.
The debate underscores the fragile nature of any potential ceasefire deal. Instead of paving the way for peace, Western troop deployments risk making Ukraine the frontline of a permanent confrontation between NATO and Russia. What was framed as a security guarantee for Kyiv is increasingly being interpreted in Moscow as an act of outright provocation.
The announcement of troop plans by the UK and France, followed by Moscow’s harsh response, highlights the deep mistrust that continues to define relations between Russia and the West. As noted by Gazeta, the Russian Foreign Ministry warned on August 18 that the introduction of NATO forces would lead to “uncontrolled escalation with unpredictable consequences.”
