Russia warns against NATO troop deployment in Ukraine

ISTANBUL

Russia on Monday said any scenario involving the deployment of NATO troops in Ukraine would be “categorically unacceptable” for Moscow and could sharply escalate the conflict.

“We reaffirm our repeatedly stated position on our categorical rejection of any scenarios that envisage the appearance in Ukraine of a military contingent with the participation of NATO countries, which is fraught with an uncontrolled escalation of the conflict with unpredictable consequences,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted on its website.

The warning came after recent remarks by Western officials on the possibility of sending allied contingents to Ukraine as part of security guarantees in a settlement of the current conflict.

Russia launched its war on Ukraine in February 2022. Western countries have provided Kyiv with large-scale military, financial and political support, while ruling out direct troop deployment up to now.