Russian President Vladimir Putin, in statements about the war in Ukraine, announced that any foreign military forces on Ukrainian territory would be considered legitimate targets for destruction.
Referring to the possibility of meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, he said that Moscow is the best place to hold such a meeting, but stressed that reaching an agreement with the Ukrainian side on key issues is “almost impossible.”
Putin added that Kiev had recently rejected contacts with Russia but was now making demands for negotiations.
Stressing the need for security guarantees for both sides, he stated that Ukraine’s participation in NATO directly threatens Russia’s security.
However, he considered Ukraine’s desire to join the European Union a legitimate choice.
The remarks come as tensions between Russia and Ukraine continue to mount, with the prospects for peace talks remaining unclear due to deep disagreements over key issues.
