Russia says foreign troops in Ukraine would be targets after UK and France pledge post-ceasefire deployment

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, France's President Emmanuel Macron and Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer shake hands upon the signing of the declaration on deploying post-ceasefire force in Ukraine during the so-called 'Coalition of the Willing' summit, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, January 6, 2026. Ludovic Marin/Pool via REUTERS

MOSCOW, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Russia said on ‌Thursday that any troops sent to Ukraine by Western governments would be "legitimate combat targets", after ‌Britain and France announced plans to deploy a multinational force there in the event of ‌a ceasefire.

A Russian Foreign Ministry statement said "militaristic declarations" by a coalition of pro-Ukraine Western governments were becoming increasingly dangerous.