Putin Sees Any Western Troops in Ukraine Would Be Legitimate Targets

Alsharq Tribune- Rahma Otaify

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that any Western troops deployed to Ukraine would be legitimate targets for Moscow to attack.

Putin was speaking a day after French President Emmanuel Macron said 26 countries had pledged to provide postwar security guarantees to Ukraine, including an international force on land, sea and in the air.

The Russia-Ukraine war, which began in February 2022 with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, has become one of the most significant and devastating conflicts in Europe since World War II, Reuters said.

Rooted in longstanding tensions over Ukraine’s sovereignty, NATO expansion, and Russia’s desire to reassert influence over former Soviet territories, the war has led to massive destruction, tens of thousands of deaths, and widespread displacement.

Despite initial Russian expectations of a swift victory, Ukrainian resistance—bolstered by Western military aid and diplomatic support—has proven resilient. The conflict has reshaped global geopolitics, triggered severe economic sanctions on Russia, and intensified debates around energy security, defense policies, and the future of international law.

As of 2025, the war remains ongoing, with shifting frontlines and no clear resolution in sight.