Russia: Russia's Foreign Ministry issued a stern warning on Thursday, cautioning that Western plans to increase militarization in Ukraine are a serious threat to peace efforts. The Ministry emphasized that any Western military presence in Ukraine would be deemed a legitimate target for Russian forces. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that the deployment of Western military units or infrastructure in Ukraine would be considered direct foreign intervention. She underscored that such warnings have been consistently communicated at the highest levels and remain unchanged.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Zakharova emphasized that Moscow believes the Ukrainian conflict can only be resolved through addressing the "root causes of the crisis." This includes Ukraine's return to a neutral and non-aligned status, demilitarization, and ensuring human rights and linguistic, cultural, and religious freedoms. Additionally, Russia calls for the recognition of what it terms "existing regional realities." These remarks followed the "Coalition of the Willing" summit in Paris on January 6, where European leaders, US envoys, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed the potential deployment of Western forces in Ukraine if a peace agreement is reached.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the coalition had adopted a declaration advocating for the establishment of military bases and equipment depots across Ukraine to support its armed forces in case of a ceasefire. Russia strongly opposes this move, viewing any NATO presence in Ukraine as "unacceptable." Furthermore, the Russian Foreign Ministry expressed concern over what it described as an "illegal US military action" against the oil tanker Marinera, considering it a blatant violation of international maritime law.
Moscow urged the US to cease any unlawful actions against the tanker and other vessels operating legally on international waters. Russia also demanded the humane treatment of Russian citizens aboard the ship and their safe return home. The Foreign Ministry stressed that these actions reflect Washington's readiness to provoke significant international crises, voicing concerns over their potential impact on global stability.