The Kremlin on Tuesday denied a claim from President Trump that Russian President Vladimir Putin had “no problem” with the idea of the deployment of European troops to Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping force under a future peace deal.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov referred to previous comments from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov when asked about the issue. “There is a position on this matter that was expressed by Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov. I have nothing to add to this and nothing to comment on,” Peskov said.
After meeting with US officials in Saudi Arabia last week, Lavrov said the idea of troops from NATO countries being deployed to Ukraine was “unacceptable” to Russia.
Russia’s envoy to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, has previously suggested that Moscow might be open to the idea of a UN peacekeeping force being sent to Ukraine.
“Peacekeepers cannot operate without a mandate from the UN Security Council. Otherwise, any foreign military contingents sent into the combat zone will be regarded as ordinary combatants under international law and a legitimate military target for our armed forces,” Nebenzia said on February 10.
Despite Russia’s clear opposition to the idea of European countries sending troops to Ukraine, the UK and France continue to push for the deployment and reportedly want the US to back it with the threat of its air power in eastern Europe.
