Image Credentials: Image Title: Putin Warns Foreign Troops in Ukraine Would Be Legitimate Targets as Trump Expresses Disappointment Source: (Gemini) Date: September 2025. Attribution: Created using AI-generated imagery (Gemini), this does not depict a real-world scene.
By Staff Writer | Open Chronicle with Agencies
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Friday that any foreign troops deployed to Ukraine under proposed post-war security guarantees would be considered “legitimate targets” for Russian forces. His comments came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that thousands of international troops could be stationed in Ukraine as part of future defense arrangements.
Speaking at an economic forum in Vladivostok, Putin reiterated Moscow’s longstanding opposition to NATO or allied forces on Ukrainian soil. “If some troops appear there, especially now, during military operations, we proceed from the fact that these will be legitimate targets for destruction,” he said. “And if decisions are reached that lead to peace, to long-term peace, then I simply do not see any sense in their presence on the territory of Ukraine, full stop.”
Zelensky, addressing reporters after meeting European Council President Antonio Costa in western Ukraine, said international guarantees were being negotiated with 26 countries. These measures could include land, sea, and air support, as well as training and equipment for Ukraine’s forces. “It will definitely be in the thousands, not just a few,” Zelensky stated. French President Emmanuel Macron clarified that some states may contribute directly to Ukraine, while others would assist from outside.
The gulf between Kyiv and Moscow on the issue underscores the mounting pessimism in the West over prospects for a swift resolution to the war. The United States and its European partners are preparing new sanctions on Russia, Costa confirmed, with EU and U.S. officials set to coordinate in Washington.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump voiced frustration over Moscow’s alignment with Beijing and New Delhi, expressing sharp disappointment with Putin. “Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!” Trump wrote on social media, referring to Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Trump, who has sought to broker peace talks between Putin and Zelensky, said he was “very disappointed” in Putin and planned to speak with him again soon. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that such a meeting could be organized quickly if needed.
Putin, for his part, dismissed concerns about Russia’s economy, despite a central bank report suggesting the country is in a technical recession.
The latest developments highlight the widening divides over Ukraine’s future security framework, with Russia vowing to resist foreign involvement while Kyiv seeks broad international backing to deter further aggression.