Vladimir Putin has issued a threat to NATO forces in Ukraine (Image: Contributor, Getty Images)
Vladimir Putin today issued a stark warning of “destruction” for British and other NATO forces deployed in Ukraine to maintain the nation’s security.
These troops would constitute “legitimate” targets, he declared. “If any [Western] troops appear there, especially now during military operations, we proceed from the fact that these will be legitimate targets for their destruction,” he stated in Vladivostok.
“And if decisions are reached that will lead to peace, to long-term peace, then I simply do not see any sense in their presence on the territory of Ukraine. That’s all. Because if these agreements are reached, let no one doubt that Russia will implement them in full.” It comes after a lip reader revealed the chilling 3-word promise that Donald Trump whispered into Putin’s ear at their Alaska summit.
Putin declared, “Security guarantees must be for both Russia and Ukraine, and Russia will respect them.”
However, the Kremlin bluntly pledged to continue its military campaign against Ukraine unless Kyiv surrenders to Putin’s demands, reports the Express.
Destroyed buildings in Kyiv, Ukraine (Image: Kostya Liberov/Libkos, Getty Images)
The Russian dictator criticized Zelensky for declining to travel to Moscow for face-to-face discussions in his stronghold.
He offered complete protection to the Ukrainian president should he venture to Russia for negotiations.
“The best place for negotiations is the capital of the Russian Federation,” Putin announced in what appears to be psychological warfare against Zelensky.
Putin would never consent to discussions in Kyiv, for instance. “The Ukrainian side wants this meeting and offers this meeting,” he claimed.
“I said I am ready, please come [to Moscow]. We will definitely provide conditions for work and safety. 100% guarantee.”
Putin has stated that he “does not see much point in direct contacts with Zelensky, but is ready for them.”
Ukrainian soldiers fire the Ukrainian artillery piece ‘Bohdana’ (Image: Anadolu, Anadolu via Getty Images)
He expressed his belief that “it will be impossible to reach an agreement with Zelensky on key issues at the moment.”
However, Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied that Putin expected Zelensky to surrender. “He was invited to Moscow to talk, not to capitulate,” Peskov clarified.
This invitation was Putin’s “proposal” as a step towards peace, according to Peskov. “It was his proposal, and we see that it was rejected by Zelensky personally, through his foreign minister.”
Peskov, a trusted Putin mouthpiece, warned that Moscow would continue its war if Zelensky failed to make major concessions to Russia.
“Russia is ready to achieve its goals in Ukraine by peaceful means, but in the absence of such an opportunity, it will continue the special [military] operation.”
Peskov claimed that Moscow accepted that Ukraine and NATO must have security guarantees in a peace settlement – but this could not involve Western troops as envisaged by the British-French organized Coalition of the Willing.
Ukrainian soldiers have fought against Russia for three years (Image: Getty)
Peskov stated, “Can Ukraine‘s security guarantees be ensured and provided by foreign, especially European and American, military contingents? Definitely not, they cannot.”
He added, “Of course, security guarantees should be provided to both Ukraine and NATO.
“After all, what was one of the root causes of this conflict?
“This is when, in fact, the foundations of security guarantees for our country began to be violated, when Ukraine began to be drawn into NATO and when NATO’s military infrastructure began to move towards our borders.
“And, of course, these guarantees should be provided to both us and the Ukrainians during the settlement process.”
The Kremlin also rejected claims that Donald Trump has requested a fresh phone conversation with Putin.
The US president had indicated that he would contact Putin “in the next few days” in an effort to end the stalemate on peace negotiations – but Moscow maintained no discussions were planned.
However, Putin’s 78-year-old foreign affairs advisor Yuri Ushakov stated he was not informed of any request from the US for a dialogue between Trump and Putin.
“I haven’t heard about that,” he said.
The most recent warnings from Moscow emerged as Putin launched extensive new attacks on Ukraine with at least 157 drones and numerous missiles striking ten sites.
Claims of chemical spills from Russian attacks in Dnipro were refuted, but strikes occurred at an unspecified manufacturing facility.
“The enemy targeted an enterprise in the regional center. Fires broke out,” said an emergency official. Ukraine caused significant harm to Russia‘s military and petroleum installations.
A weapons storage site was struck in Putin-controlled Luhansk region. Ukrainian drones have reportedly caused a massive explosion and subsequent fire at a key Russian oil refinery in Ryazan, located just 125 miles from Moscow.
This facility is crucial to the capital’s fuel supplies, and its destruction has led to petrol shortages across Russia due to repeated Ukrainian strikes on such refineries.
It comes amid rumors thatPutin has been replaced by a body double after viewers spotted a hidden ‘clue’ during his appearance alongside Trump.