Russia says foreign forces in Ukraine would be 'legitimate targets'


Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends a meeting at the ministry headquarters in Moscow, Russia, February 2, 2026. Alexander Zemlianichenko/Pool via REUTERS

MOSCOW, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Russia would ‌regard the deployment of any foreign military forces or infrastructure in Ukraine ‌as foreign intervention and treat those forces as legitimate targets, the Foreign ‌Ministry said on Monday, citing Minister Sergei Lavrov.

The ministry's comment, one of many it said were in response to questions put to Lavrov, also praised U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts at working for a ‍resolution of the war and said he understood the ‍fundamental reasons behind the conflict.

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