Coalition Troops Are Targets, Russia Warns

Russia has warned that any troops deployed to Ukraine by the so-called “Coalition of the Willing” would be regarded as legitimate military targets, describing the proposed deployment as a direct threat to its national security.

The warning was issued by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova while responding to remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron on plans by some European countries to deploy troops to Ukraine.

Addressing a press briefing in Moscow, Zakharova said Russia considered the proposed deployment “unacceptable” and warned that any foreign military presence in Ukraine under the coalition would amount to direct intervention in the conflict.

“We would like to once again emphasize that the deployment in Ukraine of any military contingents from the so-called Coalition of the Willing is unacceptable for our country,” she said.

“This would, I repeat, de facto amount to foreign intervention and an increase in threats to Russia’s security. Such units will be regarded by us as legitimate military targets.”
Zakharova also accused Western countries of undermining efforts to end the war by continuing to supply weapons to Ukraine.

She cited comments previously made by former European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who said the conflict could have ended much sooner if Europe had stopped providing military assistance to Kyiv.

“If the Western countries genuinely want to end the confrontation, which is draining the resources of their own taxpayers, they simply need to stop supplying weapons to the Kyiv regime,” she said.

The Russian official further challenged European leaders to be more candid about their objectives.

“Stop hiding behind talk of peace and openly admit that they want only one thing—aggression,” Zakharova said.

She also alleged that weapons supplied by Western nations had been used in attacks against Russian civilians and claimed that some of the arms had found their way into illegal markets.

“Such cases have already been documented,” she said, alleging that the weapons had surfaced not only in Europe but also in Latin America, Africa and the Middle East.

Turning to regional security, Zakharova criticised recent military exercises conducted by Poland near the borders with Russia and Belarus, describing the drills as a provocative display of military strength.

According to her, the exercises, held on July 13 and 14, reflected Warsaw’s ambition to position itself as “the leader of Eastern Europe” and “the main bastion of NATO’s eastern flank.”

“The intensification of Poland’s military activity near the borders of Russia and Belarus once again demonstrates the complete irresponsibility of the Polish elite,” she said.