Moscow on Friday rejected the presence of NATO troops in Ukraine, even after a possible peace cope with Kiev.
“We might acknowledge it as a menace to ourselves – the presence of worldwide forces, or any overseas forces, or NATO forces on Ukrainian soil, close to our border,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated in Vladivostok on the sidelines of the financial discussion board, in line with Russian information company Interfax.
Peskov stated NATO sees Russia as an enemy and that is explicitly said in its paperwork. “That’s harmful for our nation,” he careworn.
Relating to discussions on safety ensures, it can’t solely be about Ukraine, the spokesman stated, including that Russia additionally wants ensures for its personal safety.
Peskov famous that the struggle in opposition to Ukraine, which has lasted greater than three and a half years, additionally has its roots in NATO’s growth as much as Russia’s borders.
Kremlin: Ukraine’s safety can’t come at Russia’s expense
The safety of Ukraine, which aspires to affix NATO, should not be ensured at Russia’s expense, Peskov stated, referring to Thursday’s assembly of the so-called Coalition of the Keen in Paris.
On the talks, quite a few NATO member states had expressed readiness to station troops in Ukraine to guard the nation from renewed aggression by its neighbour after a potential ceasefire or peace cope with Russia.
“You can’t assure the safety of 1 nation on the expense of destroying the safety of one other. That won’t assist us transfer nearer to an answer to the Ukraine battle,” Peskov stated.
Based on the Kremlin, one in every of Russia’s struggle goals is to forestall Ukraine from becoming a member of NATO.