Moscow will treat any foreign troop deployment in Ukraine as direct involvement in the war and respond accordingly, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned on March 13.
Following U.S.-Ukraine talks in Saudi Arabia, Zakharova doubled down on Russia’s opposition to any international peacekeeping initiative, declaring that “Russia’s position is shaped within Russia” and “will not be formed abroad.”
The sharp statement comes amid growing international discussions about future security guarantees for Ukraine, including proposals for potential ceasefire monitors or non-combat deployments.
This was reported by European Pravda with reference to the Russian state news outlet TASS
Zakharova dismissed such suggestions outright, framing them as external interference in what Russia views as its own conflict.
On the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a rare visit to a military command post in Russia’s Kursk region—his first since Ukrainian operations intensified in the area.
Putin labeled captured Ukrainian soldiers as “terrorists,” claiming they resisted Russian forces and committed crimes against civilians.
Under Russian law, he said, they would be prosecuted accordingly.
