Politis

Russia: Any Western Military Presence in Ukraine a 'Legitimate Target'

Published January 8, 2026, 12:29
Russia: Any Western Military Presence in Ukraine a 'Legitimate Target'

Russia has warned that it will consider any Western military presence in Ukraine a “legitimate target” for its armed forces, following European announcements of plans to deploy thousands of troops to the country. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized “militarist” statements following the agreement between Kyiv and its European allies. Zakharova described the statements as creating a “true ‘axis of war’”. The warning comes amid heightened tensions between Russia and the West over the war in Ukraine and the potential for increased military support to Kyiv.