Putin rejects Western reassurance force in Ukraine after Paris summit
Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed Western proposals for a so-called reassurance force in Ukraine, following a Paris summit that brought together 26 of Kyiv’s allies. The plan, championed by French President Emmanuel Macron, aimed to finalise security guarantees to be activated immediately after a potential ceasefire. Macron said the participating countries had committed to supporting Ukraine by land, sea, or air, but he declined to name which nations were involved. He stressed that the force would not engage in direct combat with Russian troops but would instead act as a buffer to prevent renewed aggression. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the move, calling it the first concrete step toward safeguarding his country’s future. Putin, however, swiftly rejected the initiative. Speaking at an economic forum in Vladivostok, he warned that any foreign soldiers entering Ukraine would be considered legitimate targets. […]