Russia has sharply escalated its rhetoric against the West’s growing interest in deploying peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, warning that any such presence would be treated as direct involvement in the conflict — with what it ominously called “all the consequences” for participating countries.
Speaking to Izvestia in an interview published Sunday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko reiterated that Moscow rejects any foreign military deployment under the NATO or EU umbrella — or any national flag — in Ukraine’s territory.
Grushko drew a hard line, stating, “If they appear there, it means they are deployed in the conflict zone, with all the consequences for these contingents as parties to the conflict.”
His interview follows reports that Britain, France, and other allies are preparing to send more than 10,000 peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, should a ceasefire agreement take hold.
Trump-Putin Ceasefire Push
According to Digi24, the comments come as U.S. President Donald Trump attempts to broker a 30-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, a proposal Kiev has already accepted.
Trump is expected to discuss the plan directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week, according to U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who described recent talks with Putin in Moscow as “positive.”
Despite the high-level diplomacy, Grushko dismissed talk of peacekeeping forces as premature.
“We can talk about unarmed observers, a civilian mission that would monitor the implementation of individual aspects of this agreement… In the meantime, it’s just hot air.”
Russia’s Conditions for Peace
In any future peace deal, Russia is demanding firm guarantees that Ukraine will remain a neutral state and that NATO will explicitly exclude Ukraine from joining.
“Part of these guarantees should be Ukraine's neutral status, the refusal of NATO countries to accept it into the alliance,” Grushko told Izvestia, as quoted by Reuters and News.ro.
He added that only by addressing these “root causes” of the conflict could long-term peace and regional stability be achieved.
Western Leaders Push Back
Western leaders, however, appear unmoved by Moscow’s warnings. French President Emmanuel Macron said that decisions about foreign troops on Ukrainian soil are Kiev’s to make — not Moscow’s.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also stated that Australia is open to peacekeeping requests should they come.
Yet Grushko made clear that Moscow sees no distinction between NATO troops operating under an alliance flag, EU label, or national banners.
“It doesn’t matter under what label NATO contingents would be deployed… If they appear there, they are part of the conflict,” he stated.
