Russia on Tuesday opposed the presence of troops from North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO countries in Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed the idea that NATO member forces could act as peacekeepers under any ceasefire agreement, calling it unacceptable.
Speaking to reporters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Lavrov stated: “The appearance of armed forces from the same countries, albeit under a foreign flag, under the flag of the European Union or under national flags, does not change anything in this regard. This is, of course, unacceptable to us.”
This comes as some European leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, have floated the idea of deploying peacekeeping forces in Ukraine if an agreement is reached.
Russia has previously demanded that Ukraine cede control of large swathes of its territory and abandon its ambition to join NATO—conditions that Kyiv has rejected.
Last week, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated that Ukraine joining NATO is not “a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement.”
Ukraine and Russia have been at war for nearly three years.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has announced plans to end the conflict between the two neighbouring countries.
