NATO troops in Ukraine pose harmful and pointless threats, as per the Kremlin's stance.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has once again denied that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's powers have been extended due to the martial law declared in Ukraine, attributing this to the ongoing Russian invasion. This denial comes as Putin continues to assert his rejection of troops from NATO countries in Ukraine, a region he has attacked.
NATO, on the other hand, views Russia as an enemy, a position that Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has confirmed in their documents. In response, Western states from the Coalition of the Willing have discussed possible security guarantees for Ukraine after the end of the war.
Putin has repeatedly offered guarantees for Zelensky's security, inviting him for a meeting in Moscow. However, Zelensky has declined the offer, with at least seven countries offering to host such a summit, including Turkey and three Gulf states that are considered neutral in the conflict.
One of Russia's war aims is to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO. Putin began his war against Ukraine in February 2022. He has also questioned the legitimacy of Zelensky, stating that his term has expired last year. However, negotiations with Zelensky, according to Putin, cannot bring results because he no longer has legal authority to sign anything.
In discussions about security guarantees, Peskov stated that it cannot just be about Ukraine; Russia also needs guarantees for its security. He emphasized that the presence of foreign military forces near Russia's border is dangerous for Russia. Peskov recalled Russia's position that the war against Ukraine, which has been going on for more than three and a half years, also has its roots in NATO's expansion to Russia's borders.
The security of Ukraine, which aspires to join NATO, should not be guaranteed at the expense of Russia, according to the Kremlin. A troop presence of European NATO countries in Ukraine would primarily be conceivable as a large-scale training mission, not a classic peacekeeping force.
Putin has stated that if any military forces appear during the fighting, they would be considered legitimate targets and would be destroyed. Many countries have expressed their willingness to send troops to secure a ceasefire or peace. However, Putin argues that no foreign troops would be needed in Ukraine as part of a long-term peace agreement.
In a notable development, the United States, under President Donald Trump, invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to meet in Washington shortly after the US-Russia summit in Alaska on August 15, 2025. European leaders were also involved in consultations following this.
Martial law in Ukraine provides that no elections are held during the war and the president's powers are extended. Peskov justified Moscow's repeated rejection by stating that the presence of foreign military forces near Russia's border poses a threat to Moscow.
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