Russia will consider any Western military presence in Ukraine as a ‘legitimate target’

Kinshasa, January 8^th, 2026 (CPA). The Russian government has warned on Thursday that it would consider any Western presence in Ukraine as a ‘legitimate target’ for its armed forces, after Europeans have announced their intention to deploy thousands of troops to the country after the war, international media have reported. ‘All these units and facilities will be considered as legitimate military targets for the Russian armed forces. These warnings have been repeated several times at the highest level and remain valid, » has declared Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Ministry in charge of Foreign Affairs.  ‘The new militaristic declarations of the so-called Coalition of Volunteers and the regime in Kiev make them a real axis of war,’ has she also emphasised. In this first reaction since Tuesday’s summit in Paris between Kiev and its allies to seal security guarantees for Ukraine, Moscow seems to be dampening hopes for the success of diplomatic efforts that have intensified since November under the impetus of US President Donald Trump. The 35 member countries of the ‘coalition of the willing’, mainly European, agreed on Tuesday in Paris to deploy a multinational force in Ukraine and participate in monitoring a potential ceasefire under US ‘leadership’ once a hypothetical agreement with Russia has been reached. The United Kingdom and France have signed a declaration of intention with Ukraine, in which they say they are ready to deploy British and French soldiers to maintain peace in the event of a ceasefire.