Moscow, Russia — Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned on Thursday that the deployment of European peacekeepers in Ukraine would be viewed by Moscow as direct NATO involvement in the ongoing conflict.
Lavrov’s remarks came in response to proposals from several European leaders suggesting the deployment of peacekeeping forces once both Russia and Ukraine agree to a ceasefire.
The statement escalated tensions as French President Emmanuel Macron described Russia as a significant threat to France and Europe, calling for a united front against what he termed Russian aggression.
Speaking at a security forum, Macron accused Moscow of seeking to extend its influence beyond Ukraine, questioning, “Who can believe that this Russia of today will stop at Ukraine?”
His comments were perceived as highly confrontational in Moscow, further complicating the prospects of diplomatic resolution.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov echoed U.S. Senator Marco Rubio’s characterization of the conflict as a “proxy war” between nuclear powers, aligning with the view that the war represents a broader struggle between Russia and the U.S.-led West.
Peskov emphasized that Russia has long seen the conflict in such terms, stressing the need for it to end. “From the very beginning, we understood that we were not just dealing with Ukraine, but with the collective West,” Peskov stated.
Macron’s speech, delivered amid emergency talks by European Union leaders in Brussels, called for continued support to Ukraine and criticized NATO’s perceived reluctance to confront Russia more aggressively.
He also suggested that prolonging the conflict might be inevitable, given what he described as Moscow’s expansionist ambitions.
However, Macron avoided addressing one of Russia’s primary grievances — NATO’s eastward expansion — which Moscow has repeatedly cited as a security threat.
The French president’s warnings were met with mixed reactions in Brussels. Some European leaders expressed support for Macron’s stance, while others urged caution, fearing an escalation that could draw NATO directly into the conflict.
The emergency summit highlighted the growing divisions within the EU regarding the appropriate response to the war, with countries closest to Russia’s borders pushing for stronger action and others advocating for diplomatic efforts.
Lavrov’s statement appeared to be a direct response to these divisions, framing the potential deployment of peacekeepers as a red line for Moscow.
“The introduction of any European peacekeeping forces would be seen as direct involvement by NATO in the conflict,” Lavrov declared, warning of “unpredictable consequences” should such a move proceed without Russia’s consent.
As the war grinds on with no end in sight, the rhetoric from both sides has intensified. Analysts suggest that the latest exchange of accusations may complicate efforts to broker a ceasefire, potentially entrenching the conflict even further.
The prospect of European peacekeepers, initially floated as a measure to stabilize the region, now risks becoming another flashpoint in the rapidly escalating crisis.
Meanwhile, European leaders remain locked in discussions on how to balance support for Ukraine with the need to prevent a wider war. As winter approaches and energy concerns mount across the continent, the stakes of the ongoing conflict are set to rise even higher.
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