Kremlin claims European nations have confrontational stance

(MENAFN) The Kremlin has accused Western European nations of rejecting diplomacy with Russia in favor of military escalation, following discussions about potential foreign troop deployments to Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that certain European countries are taking a “militaristic, confrontational, and anti-Russian” approach by proposing to send troops to Ukrainian territory.

Peskov expressed regret that Russia’s repeated warnings about the dangers of foreign military involvement have gone unheeded. He voiced disappointment over what he described as a lack of willingness among European nations to even consider Moscow’s security concerns. According to Peskov, instead of investing heavily in support for Ukraine, these countries should engage in respectful dialogue with Russia.

“Logic and common sense should favor dialogue,” he said, “but this option is neither being discussed nor prioritized in Europe.”

His comments followed French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement, alongside UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, that a joint Franco-British force of up to 50,000 troops could be deployed in Ukraine post-ceasefire. Macron said the coalition might also oversee Ukrainian airspace and coastal security, with a British-led coordination center potentially set up in Kiev.

Russia has firmly opposed any form of foreign troop presence in Ukraine. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that such deployments would create irreversible conditions that obstruct peace talks. Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service has also argued that introducing a Western “peacekeeping” force—possibly up to 100,000 troops—would be tantamount to occupation.

Moscow has repeatedly claimed that Western military backing for Kiev is undermining prospects for a peaceful settlement and insisted that any international peacekeeping arrangement must have the consent of all involved parties.

MENAFN23072025000070015687ID1109836535