Putin says Russia would consider foreign troops deployed in Ukraine "legitimate targets"

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that any foreign troops deployed to Ukraine, particularly while his country's full-scale invasion is still ongoing, would be considered "legitimate targets" by Moscow's forces. Putin's comments came hours after European leaders repledged their commitment to provide a potential peacekeeping force as part of security guarantees for Ukraine if and when a ceasefire is agreed.

Moscow has repeatedly described the prospect of Western forces deploying to Ukraine, even after the fighting ends, "unacceptable."

"If any troops appear there, especially now while fighting is ongoing, we assume that they will be legitimate targets," the Russian leader said during a panel discussion at the Eastern Economic Forum in the far eastern Russian city of Vladivostok.