Vladimir Putin has sent an unmistakable message to the world: Ukraine is his red line, and the deployment of Western troops there will be met with force. His warning that any such forces would become “legitimate targets” is the clearest articulation yet of Moscow’s non-negotiable security interests.
This declaration was prompted by a French-led initiative, supported by 26 nations, to establish a postwar military presence in Ukraine to guarantee its security. This is a key goal for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. For Putin, however, it represents a direct and unacceptable challenge.
The Kremlin is leveraging this red line to create division among its adversaries. The threat of a direct conflict with Russia has already led several major European powers, including Germany, to reject the idea of sending troops, thereby undermining the unity of the Western response.
The drawing of this red line comes at a time of diplomatic deadlock. The peace process is non-existent, and the leaders of Russia and Ukraine are not even close to an agreement. Putin’s assertion that a deal is “impossible” reinforces the idea that this is a conflict that will be defined by military power, not negotiation.