Moscow will consider the presence of Western troops in Ukraine as an intervention, spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia Maria Zakharova said today, commenting on the new declaration of the “Coalition of the Willing”.
After a meeting of more than twenty countries in Paris on January 6, officials agreed on mechanisms to monitor the cease-fire under the leadership of the United States of America (USA).
Foreign countries will provide measures on land, sea and in the air, which will be implemented when there is a credible cessation of hostilities, it was stated in the joint statement.
The allies also agreed to continue long-term military aid and arming of Ukraine’s armed forces, which it said will remain the first line of defense and deterrence after the peace deal is signed.
In a statement published on the Ministry’s website, Zakharova said that the deployment of military units, military facilities, warehouses and other infrastructure of Western countries on the territory of Ukraine “will be classified as foreign intervention, which represents a direct threat to the security of not only Russia, but also other European countries”, reports Ria Novosti.
“All such units and facilities will be considered legitimate combat targets,” Zaharova said.
She emphasized that the adopted document is aimed “at the continuation of the militarization of Ukraine, the escalation and spread of hostilities.”
“The new militaristic declarations of the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ and the Kyiv regime create the real axis of the war,” Zaharova wrote and added:
“The plans of its participants are becoming more and more dangerous and destructive for the future of the European continent and its inhabitants, who are also forced by Western politicians to pay for such aspirations from their own funds.”
Zakharova stated that the key element of that document is the deployment of certain multinational forces on Ukrainian territory, which members of the “Coalition of the Willing” will have to form in order to facilitate the reconstruction of the Ukrainian armed forces and ensure the containment of Russia after the cessation of hostilities. The document also, Zaharova further states, talks about the continuous merging of the military-industrial complexes of Ukraine and NATO countries.
“The conflict can be resolved only after its root causes are eliminated, the neighboring country returns to the status of a non-aligned state and territorial realities are recognized,” Zaharova said.
According to her, these goals will be achieved either through diplomatic means or through a special operation.
