Russia said on Jan. 8 that it would view any Western troops deployed in Ukraine as legitimate targets.

“The Russian Foreign Ministry warns that the deployment of military units and the setting-up of military facilities, storage, and other Western infrastructure on Ukrainian territory will be qualified as foreign intervention that directly threatens the security of Russia and other European countries.

“All such units and facilities will be considered as legitimate military targets for the Russian Armed Forces. Warnings to this effect have been repeatedly made at the highest level and remain relevant.”

Zakharova also said that the declaration signed in Paris by the Coalition of the Willing, “is not aimed at achieving a lasting peace and security but rather at continuing the militarization, escalation and further conflict aggravation.”

“Its core element,” she said, “is the deployment of ‘a multinational force’ on Ukrainian territory that the coalition will have to form to contribute to the ’rebuilding‘ of the Ukrainian armed forces and ’support deterrence’ following the cessation of the hostilities.”

The spokesperson also reasserted the Kremlin’s position that hostilities can only end after the “elimination” of what Moscow views as the “root causes” of the conflict, including the “re-establishment of Ukraine’s neutral non-aligned status, its demilitarization and denazification,” and an agreement from Kyiv to observe the “language, cultural and religious rights and freedoms” of ethnic Russians in the country.

She also said that Ukraine must recognize “the current territorial realities,” a reference to Moscow’s claim of sovereignty over the Donbass region.

Kyiv favors ending hostilities along the current battle lines.

Macron said: “These security guarantees are key to ensuring that a peace agreement can never amount to a Ukrainian surrender and that a peace agreement can never result in a new threat to Ukraine.”

Starmer told the British Parliament in London on Jan. 7 that any deployment of UK forces under a declaration signed with France and Ukraine would be subject to a vote in Parliament.

“I will keep the house updated as the situation develops, and were troops to be deployed under the declaration signed, I would put that matter to the house for a vote,” he said.

Allies also backed a proposal to provide Ukraine with multilayered security guarantees after any cease-fire or peace settlement.

A joint statement said Kyiv’s armed forces would remain “the first line of defense and deterrence,” with partners committing to long-term military assistance even after hostilities cease.

“We stand ready to commit to a system of politically and legally binding guarantees that will be activated once a cease-fire enters into force,” the letter reads.