Moscow, Dec 17, (dpa/GNA) – The Kremlin has signalled a willingness to discuss the possible deployment of Western troops in Ukraine, despite its long-standing opposition to such a move.
The TASS news agency quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying that Russia’s position on the stationing of foreign forces was “well-known, consistent and clear” – but it could nevertheless be “a subject for discussion.”
The proposal resurfaced during talks in Berlin this week involving US, European and Ukrainian officials. So far, there is no publicly known position from the US side, and Washington has not signed a paper on this published by the German government.
Peskov left open which negotiations he was referring to, and did not say that Russia was ready to discuss troops from NATO countries. However, he made it clear that Russia’s position of categorical rejection of such troops remains unchanged.
According to Peskov, Russia has not yet been officially informed about the status of the talks between the US, Europe and Ukraine. He said that the special envoy for US President Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff, is not expected in Moscow this week. Therefore, Russia will not publicly discuss individual points of conflict regulation, he said.
The idea under discussion is to deploy a multinational force in Ukraine after a ceasefire is reached, with a mandate to monitor compliance. Kiev has described such a force as part of the security guarantees it seeks to prevent a renewed Russian attack.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov raised alarm last week, when he said that peacekeeping troops stationed in Ukraine could become “legitimate targets.”
Politicians in Moscow have also warned of a potential World War III, if troops from NATO countries are indeed stationed in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has also justified the war as necessary, to prevent Ukraine’s NATO membership and the presence of alliance troops that Moscow considers hostile.
GNA