CAIRO: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday denounced a European initiative to deploy a multinational force in Ukraine as part of a peace arrangement, calling it a direct and provocative threat to Russia.
Speaking during an official visit to Egypt, Lavrov said the proposal was not genuinely aimed at ensuring security but rather at expanding military activity on Ukrainian territory. He warned that such plans would effectively turn Ukraine into a platform for actions hostile to the Russian Federation.
Earlier this week, leaders of Ukraine’s key European partners — including Britain, France, Germany and Italy — said they were willing to consider sending a European-led multinational force to Ukraine. The proposed mission would focus on helping rebuild Ukraine’s armed forces, safeguarding its airspace and improving maritime security, including operations within the country.
Russia has consistently opposed any deployment of Western troops to Ukraine, repeatedly cautioning that foreign forces would be treated as legitimate military targets.
Ukraine, meanwhile, continues to push for strong security guarantees as part of any settlement to end the four-year conflict, arguing that clear and binding military commitments from Western partners are necessary to prevent future Russian attacks.
