European leaders and United States officials have said Ukraine would receive security guarantees once the conflict ends

Russia has described plans to deploy European troops to Ukraine as “dangerous,” further dampening expectations of a swift end to the nearly four-year-old war.

European leaders and United States officials have said Ukraine would receive security guarantees once the conflict ends.

The guarantees are expected to involve a US-led framework for oversight, alongside a coalition of European countries tasked with supporting Ukraine’s security after the fighting stops.

However, Moscow has consistently insisted it will not accept the deployment of troops from NATO countries on Ukrainian soil.

Russia’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, said on Thursday that any such units or facilities would be considered legitimate military targets for Russian forces.

She said the warning echoed earlier statements by President Vladimir Putin.

Zakharova described the plan as “dangerous” and “destructive,” accusing Kyiv’s allies of forming an “axis of war.”

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said a ceasefire in Ukraine remains “a long way off” because Russia is unwilling to agree to one.

Merz told reporters on Thursday that “the order should be: first, a ceasefire, and then long-term security guarantees for Ukraine in a deal with Russia.

“Without Russia’s agreement, all of this is not possible, and we are likely still a long way from getting that agreement.”

Meanwhile, the US embassy in Kyiv warned on Thursday that a large-scale air attack could occur at any time in the coming days.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also referenced the warning in his nightly address, saying “there might be another big Russian attack” overnight, without giving further details.

Zelenskyy urged Ukrainians to take air raid alerts seriously and to move to shelters whenever instructed to do so.

Join us on our WhatsApp Platform @KOIKIMEDIA NEWS YOUR PAGE