As the war in Ukraine grinds on with no clear end in sight, the question of international security guarantees for Kyiv has become a focal point in the high-stakes chess match playing out across Europe, Washington, and Moscow. Over the past week, a flurry of statements from world leaders, military planners, and diplomats have revealed both the ambition and the complexity involved in securing Ukraine’s future—and the risks that come with any foreign troop deployment.
European military commanders have drawn up a comprehensive plan to send 10,000 troops to Ukraine, according to reporting from multiple outlets including UBN and Reuters. The strategy divides these forces into two distinct groups: one dedicated to training and assisting the Ukrainian military, and another acting as a support force designed to deter any future Russian invasions. In addition, aerial patrols would be conducted by forces stationed outside Ukrainian territory, providing a layer of security without direct boots on the ground.
But the path to implementation is anything but straightforward. Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a stark warning on September 7, 2025, declaring that any foreign military personnel present in Ukraine while hostilities continue will be considered "legitimate targets" by Russia. "Therefore, if some troops appear there, especially now, during military operations, we proceed from the fact that these will be legitimate targets for destruction," Putin told an economic forum in Vladivostok, as cited by Reuters. He further elaborated that the presence of foreign troops would be unnecessary if a long-term peace were achieved, adding, "I simply do not see any sense in their presence on the territory of Ukraine, full stop."
The debate over troop deployments has been further complicated by shifting stances among Western allies. French President Emmanuel Macron initially announced that 26 countries—including France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Finland, Denmark, Belgium, and Canada—were prepared to send "deterrence forces" to Ukraine as part of an international guarantee. However, as the week unfolded, Macron clarified that some countries would fulfill their commitments by training and equipping Ukrainian forces from outside the country, rather than deploying troops directly to Ukrainian soil.
This recalibration was echoed by Vladimir Rogov, co-chairman of the Coordination Council for the Integration of New Regions, who observed a noticeable decline in Western enthusiasm for sending troops after Putin’s warning. According to Rogov, the number of states willing to endorse Macron’s plan "has noticeably declined, as reflected in a series of official rejections from Western countries and their allies." Rogov warned that any deployment of foreign troops would be seen by Russia as a direct provocation, one that would compel a response.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, for his part, has remained steadfast in his insistence that security guarantees must be put in place now, not deferred until after a ceasefire. "It is important that we are discussing all this (security guarantees) ... it will definitely be in the thousands (of troops), not just a few," Zelenskyy said after meeting Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, in western Ukraine, as reported by Reuters. Zelenskyy’s position reflects deep skepticism in Kyiv about the durability of any peace deal with Moscow unless backed by robust international support.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte weighed in, emphasizing that Moscow has no say over whether Western troops can be present in Ukraine during peace negotiations. "Only Kyiv can decide," Rutte asserted, underscoring the alliance’s commitment to Ukrainian sovereignty.
Meanwhile, the United States has signaled a nuanced approach. The White House has indicated that securing guarantees for Ukraine will require direct negotiations with Putin, but has also made clear that no American troops are planned for deployment in Ukraine. Instead, should a peace agreement be reached, the US is expected to lead the monitoring of Ukraine’s buffer zone using drones, satellites, and other intelligence methods, coordinating closely with allied countries.
The diplomatic dance extends beyond Europe and Russia. US President Donald Trump, frustrated by his inability to broker an end to the conflict, expressed disappointment in Putin and concern over Russia’s deepening ties with China. "Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest, China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!" Trump posted on social media, referencing a recent summit where Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump said he would speak to Putin again soon, while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that a meeting could be organized quickly.
As the prospects for a near-term resolution appear increasingly remote, Western leaders are preparing to ratchet up economic pressure on Moscow. Antonio Costa announced that work is underway in Brussels on a new package of sanctions, with a European team traveling to Washington, D.C., to coordinate with American partners. "We are ready to do more, we are working with the U.S. and other like-minded partners to increase our pressure, through further sanctions, direct and secondary sanctions. More economic measures to push Russia to stop this war," Costa said after his meeting with Zelenskyy.
Putin, for his part, denied that the Russian economy was stagnating, despite a central bank report suggesting a technical recession. The Russian leader’s insistence on economic resilience is part of his broader narrative that Moscow will not be coerced by Western measures, whether military or financial.
Adding another layer of complexity, Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s press secretary, argued that both Ukraine and Russia should receive security guarantees—a formulation that has raised eyebrows in Kyiv and among its Western supporters, who view Moscow as the aggressor in the conflict.
For now, the idea of foreign troops in Ukraine remains a point of contention, both among Western governments and between Kyiv and Moscow. The initial burst of enthusiasm for a multinational force has been tempered by Russian threats and the reality of escalating risks. The debate underscores a fundamental dilemma: how to provide Ukraine with credible security guarantees without triggering a broader confrontation with Russia.
As the world watches, the future of Ukraine’s security—and the stability of Europe itself—hangs in the balance, shaped by a complex web of military planning, diplomatic negotiation, and the ever-present threat of escalation.