As the war in Ukraine grinds into its fourth year, a new round of warnings and pledges from world leaders has cast a fresh spotlight on the future of international involvement in the conflict. On September 5, 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a stark warning: any foreign troops deployed to Ukraine while fighting continues would be considered “legitimate targets” by Moscow’s forces. Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Putin left little room for ambiguity. “If any troops appear there, especially now while fighting is ongoing, we assume that they will be legitimate targets,” he declared, according to reporting by the Associated Press and CNN. The message was as blunt as it was clear—Russia sees any foreign military presence in Ukraine during active hostilities as fair game.
Putin’s remarks came on the heels of significant developments among Ukraine’s Western allies. Just a day earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron had announced that 26 countries had pledged to deploy troops as a “reassurance force” for Ukraine once a ceasefire or peace agreement is in place. Macron’s comments followed a high-profile gathering in Paris of the so-called “coalition of the willing,” a group of 35 nations supporting Ukraine’s defense and sovereignty. “We have agreed there will be presence,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, as reported by CNN. “The presence is different. It is in the sky, in the sea and on the ground.”
The idea behind the multinational reassurance force is to guarantee Ukraine’s security in the uncertain days following any halt to the fighting. According to Macron, these 26 countries are prepared to maintain a presence on Ukrainian territory, in its airspace, or in its surrounding waters to deter further aggression and help stabilize the situation. Zelenskyy, echoing the urgency of the moment, insisted that security guarantees for Ukraine “start working now, during the war, and not only after it ends.” The Ukrainian leader, however, declined to share further details, citing the sensitivity and military nature of the discussions.
But the Kremlin has consistently bristled at the prospect of Western boots on Ukrainian soil, even after a ceasefire. Moscow has repeatedly called such plans “unacceptable.” On Friday, Putin doubled down on this line, dismissing the need for peacekeeping forces after any peace deal. “If decisions are reached that lead to long-term peace, then I simply see no reason for their presence on Ukrainian territory,” he said. “Because if such agreements are reached, let no one doubt that Russia will fully implement them.”
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reinforced Moscow’s demand for ironclad security arrangements, insisting that only “legally binding documents” would suffice to outline any future agreements. “Of course, you can’t just take anybody’s word for something,” Peskov told the Russian outlet Argumenty i Fakty. He also emphasized that security guarantees must be provided to both Russia and Ukraine, highlighting Moscow’s long-standing grievances about NATO’s eastward expansion and the erosion of what it sees as its own security foundations.
The debate over peacekeeping and security guarantees is unfolding against a backdrop of relentless violence. Overnight before September 5, Russian forces launched a massive barrage against Ukraine, deploying 157 strike and decoy drones along with seven missiles of various types. Ukraine’s air force reported that its defenses shot down or jammed 121 of the drones, but the damage was still significant. In the central city of Dnipro, multiple residential buildings were hit, shattering windows and damaging roofs. Regional official Serhii Lysak described the aftermath on social media: “Private homes were damaged. Windows in apartment buildings were shattered.” An unspecified facility was also set alight in the attack, though details remained scarce.
Further north, in the Chernihiv region’s Novhorod-Siversk district, Russian drones targeted infrastructure, leaving at least 15 settlements without electricity. Ukrainian authorities scrambled to restore power and assess the full extent of the damage. Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed to have destroyed 92 Ukrainian drones in retaliatory strikes, underscoring the intensity and tit-for-tat nature of the ongoing conflict.
The violence is not confined to Ukrainian territory. In Ryazan, a city roughly 200 kilometers southeast of Moscow, local social media channels reported that the city’s Rosneft oil refinery had come under drone attack. Videos circulated showing a fire lighting up the night sky. Regional Governor Pavel Malkov confirmed that drone debris had fallen on an “industrial enterprise,” though he urged residents not to share images of air defenses online. The incident is part of a broader pattern: Ukraine has stepped up attacks on Russian oil infrastructure in recent weeks, a campaign it says is aimed at undermining Moscow’s war effort. The fallout has been felt on Russian streets, with some regions experiencing gas shortages and rationing.
While the international community debates the merits and risks of a post-war peacekeeping force, the human toll of the conflict continues to mount. On September 4, two humanitarian workers were killed in a Russian missile strike on a demining site in northern Ukraine, according to the Danish Refugee Council. The tragedy highlights the dangers faced by those working to clear the remnants of war, even as diplomats and leaders wrangle over the terms of an eventual peace.
Amid the diplomatic maneuvering, Putin has made overtures for direct talks with Zelenskyy, even promising “a hundred percent guarantee” of security should the Ukrainian leader visit Moscow. However, Kyiv has dismissed these invitations as attempts to stall the peace process. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha noted that several countries—including Austria, the Holy See, Switzerland, Türkiye, and three Gulf states—are prepared to host talks between the two leaders. “Only increased pressure can force Russia to finally get serious about a peace process,” Sybiha said, reflecting Kyiv’s skepticism about Moscow’s intentions.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukrainian authorities claim to have foiled multiple assassination plots against Zelenskyy, a reminder of the persistent threats facing the country’s leadership. Despite these dangers, Zelenskyy maintains that Ukraine is ready for negotiations, provided they are serious and not a smokescreen for further delays.
As the war drags on, the question of foreign troops in Ukraine remains a flashpoint. For Moscow, their presence is a red line; for Kyiv and its allies, they are a potential lifeline. With both sides digging in, the path to peace looks as fraught and uncertain as ever.
