Is the Western plan to secure Ukraine a genuine security initiative or an unwitting plan for a wider war? Vladimir Putin has forced this question to the forefront by threatening to attack any foreign troops in the country, recasting the entire proposal in a more dangerous light.
The initiative, championed by France and backed by 26 nations, aims to provide Ukraine with postwar security guarantees via a military deployment. This is seen by Kyiv as a vital deterrent. But Putin’s declaration that such forces would be “legitimate targets” transforms it from a protective measure into a potential trigger for a Russia-NATO conflict.
Putin’s warning is calculated to prey on the divisions within the Western alliance. It has amplified the voices of caution in capitals like Berlin and Rome, where leaders have firmly rejected the idea of committing troops. This has already led to the plan being scaled back to a more limited, non-combat role.
The entire debate is underscored by the lack of a viable path to peace. With no ceasefire in sight, any “postwar” planning is purely hypothetical. The deep-seated animosity between Moscow and Kyiv ensures that military posturing, rather than diplomacy, continues to dominate the agenda.
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