Russia will regard units of the Coalition of the Willing as legitimate military targets if they are deployed on Ukrainian territory. This was stated on 16 July by Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She described the possible presence of such contingents as «foreign intervention» and linked it to threats to Russia’s security.
Briefly about the main points
- Zakharova stated that the presence of coalition forces in Ukraine was unacceptable.
- Moscow has described the possible deployment of troops as «foreign intervention».
- Russia is threatening to treat such units as legitimate military targets.
- France has announced that it has plans in place to deploy forces far from the front line.
- Military exercises involving French and British troops are due to take place in Poland this autumn.
Statement by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Maria Zakharova She said that the deployment in Ukraine of any military contingents from the Coalition of the Willing was unacceptable to Russia. According to her, Moscow would regard this as a «de facto foreign intervention» and an increase in threats to its security.
«We will regard such units as legitimate military targets,» said a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry at a briefing on 16 July.
Moscow reacted to this
Zakharova’s statement came following reports that plans were in place to deploy Coalition forces far from the front line. According to a source, the French President Emmanuel Macron He also spoke about plans for the near future training with the involvement of such forces in areas bordering Ukraine.
On 13–14 July, a meeting of representatives of the Coalition of the Willing took place in France. As the Élysée Palace explained, the aim was to strengthen cooperation in support of Ukraine and to demonstrate that Western allies continue to provide that support.
Studying in Poland
This autumn, around 1,500 military personnel from the United Kingdom and France are due to arrive in Poland for the first joint exercises between the countries of the Coalition of the Willing. The main focus will be on logistics, transport and the deployment of troops and equipment.
The manoeuvres are of a logistical and transport nature. The article notes that they are also seen as part of the allies’ preparations for potentially providing security guarantees to Ukraine.
The presence of allies as a line of defence for Moscow
Russia opposes any military presence by other countries NATO or Ukraine’s allies on Ukrainian territory. Zakharova’s latest statement explicitly extends this position to the forces of the Coalition of the Willing and contains a threat to use force should they be deployed.
At the same time, the coalition’s plans outlined above relate to the deployment of forces far from the front line and to exercises in Poland. This suggests that Moscow’s public reaction is directed not only at the current training activities, but also at the possible future presence of contingents in Ukraine.
