Vladimir Putin has issued a stark warning to the United Kingdom, threatening to eliminate British troops dispatched to Ukraine to assist in stabilizing the country. The authoritarian leader conveyed his menacing message, indicating that both British and other NATO forces deployed to the region, which he considers a target due to ongoing military operations, would face “destruction.” This development coincides with the United Kingdom’s armed forces minister’s statement that British troops could be swiftly deployed to Ukraine if a peace agreement is reached.
Asserting that any Western military presence in Ukraine would be viewed as legitimate targets, Putin emphasized the necessity of peace agreements for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Ukrainian territory. He emphasized Russia’s commitment to fully implementing any peace agreements that may be reached, emphasizing the importance of security guarantees for both Russia and Ukraine.
Putin’s threatening statements come following accusations of violating a previous ceasefire with Ukraine during Easter. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russian troops of failing to observe a temporary truce during Easter. The Kremlin recently vowed to continue its conflict with Ukraine unless Kyiv complies with Putin’s demands, criticizing Zelensky for declining to meet in Moscow for negotiations.
Although Putin expressed readiness for direct talks with Zelensky, he questioned the likelihood of reaching agreements on key issues at present. His spokesperson clarified that the invitation for talks was not a demand for surrender but a step towards peace. Moscow emphasized the need for security guarantees in a peace settlement involving Ukraine and NATO but opposed the involvement of foreign military contingents in ensuring Ukraine’s security.
Highlighting the conflict’s origins in security guarantees being violated by Ukraine’s alignment with NATO, Moscow stressed the importance of providing assurances to both Russia and Ukraine during the settlement process. The Kremlin indicated that the conflict stemmed from Ukraine’s integration into NATO and the movement of NATO military infrastructure towards Russia’s borders, emphasizing the necessity of security guarantees for both parties during the resolution process.