Peskov: we are closely monitoring statements about sending European military to Ukraine

Russia is closely monitoring reports about the plans of European countries to deploy their military in Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said at a briefing on 20 February. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said this at a briefing on February 20.

"We are monitoring all these reports, all the sometimes contradictory official statements of the Europeans on this matter in the most attentive way. This causes our concern," he said, commenting on information about British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's plan to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump and present him with a plan to deploy forces in Ukraine.

According to Peskov, the talk is about the deployment of military contingents of NATO countries on Ukrainian territory, which is unacceptable for Russia.

"This takes on a completely different meaning from the point of view of our security, so this topic is important for us," the Russian presidential spokesman concluded.

Undivided weight: what the EU is willing to do to maintain influence in the Ukrainian issue

And why Russia does not want to see the Europeans at the negotiating table to resolve the conflict

State Duma deputy Alexei Chepa said on February 18 that the appearance of peacekeepers in Ukraine could be discussed, but the contingent should consist only of representatives of countries that took a neutral position in the conflict. He admitted that this could be Hungary or India.

On the same day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had repeatedly pointed out that NATO's expansion with the absorption of Ukraine was a direct threat to Russia's interests and sovereignty.