Moscow Keeps Trilateral Russia‑US‑China Summit on the Table Amid Ukraine Troop Debate

Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed Western calls for a “reassurance force” in Ukraine, warning that any foreign troops would become legitimate targets if deployed. The dismissal came a day after a Paris summit where French President Emmanuel Macron announced that 26 of Ukraine’s allies had formally pledged to send forces by land, sea or air, although he did not disclose which countries. Macron stressed that the troops would be positioned to deter new aggression, not to engage on the front line.

Putin’s remarks follow a brief meeting in Alaska where he and former U.S. President Donald Trump discussed a possible ceasefire and a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump’s social‑media post praised the summit but also hinted at a broader geopolitical alignment, while Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov lauded Trump’s “constructive efforts” and condemned what he called “outrageous European provocations.”

The “Coalition of the Willing,” led by the United Kingdom and France, has been working to secure guarantees for Kyiv should an agreement materialise. These guarantees would involve strengthening Ukraine’s military and potentially deploying a reassurance force to monitor any deal.

Zelensky hailed the Paris decisions as the first concrete step toward peace, noting that thousands of foreign troops could be sent, though he cautioned that details were still pending. The United States has yet to specify its role, though Trump hinted that U.S. support might come in the form of air power. Trump said he was maintaining a “very good dialogue” with Putin and planned to speak with him again soon.

In a Vladivostok forum, Putin reiterated that if long‑term peace agreements were reached, there would be no need for foreign troops in Ukraine. Kyiv, meanwhile, insists a ceasefire must be secured in Ukraine before any broader peace talks can proceed, a stance that Russia continues to reject.