Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a warning against the deployment of foreign troops in Ukraine before a peace agreement is reached. He stated that such troops would be considered "legitimate targets" by Russian forces. Putin's remarks came during a panel discussion at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, where he emphasized that any foreign military presence in Ukraine, especially amid ongoing conflict, would not be tolerated.

"If any troops appear there, especially now while fighting is ongoing, we assume that they will be legitimate targets," Putin said. His comments followed a reaffirmation from European leaders about their commitment to a potential peacekeeping force in Ukraine, which Moscow has labeled as "unacceptable."

Putin also dismissed the notion of peacekeeping forces being deployed after a final peace deal, asserting that Russia would comply with any treaty to end its 3½-year invasion of Ukraine. He stressed the need for security guarantees for both Russia and Ukraine, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov later stating that Moscow would require "legally binding documents" to formalize such agreements. "Of course, you can't just take anybody's word for something," Peskov added.

The backdrop to Putin's comments includes a recent meeting in Paris, where French President Emmanuel Macron announced that 26 of Ukraine's allies had pledged to deploy troops as a "reassurance force" once hostilities cease. This coalition, known as the coalition of the willing, consists of 35 countries supporting Ukraine. Macron indicated that these nations would maintain a military presence on land, at sea, or in the air to ensure Ukraine's security following a ceasefire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, addressing the Ambrosetti Forum, emphasized the importance of security guarantees being implemented during the ongoing conflict, rather than waiting until it concludes. He noted that he could not provide further details on these guarantees due to their sensitive nature related to military operations.

In the meantime, Russian military actions continue to escalate. Ukraine's air force reported that Russian forces launched 157 strike and decoy drones, along with seven missiles, in overnight attacks. Ukrainian air defenses managed to intercept or jam 121 of these drones. One attack resulted in damage to residential buildings in Dnipro, as reported by regional administration head Serhii Lysak, who shared images of the destruction.

Additionally, Russian drones targeted infrastructure in the Novhorod-Siversk district of Ukraine's Chernihiv region, leaving at least 15 settlements without electricity. Meanwhile, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed that its forces destroyed 92 Ukrainian drones overnight.

In a separate incident, local reports from Ryazan, located about 200 kilometers southeast of Moscow, indicated that the city's Rosneft oil refinery was targeted, with videos showing a fire in the area. Ryazan's regional governor, Pavel Malkov, confirmed that drone debris had fallen on an industrial site but did not provide further details, urging residents to refrain from sharing images of air defenses online.

Ukraine has intensified its attacks on Russian oil infrastructure in recent weeks, claiming that it supports Moscow's military efforts. Reports indicate that some regions in Russia are experiencing fuel shortages, leading to long lines at gas stations and officials implementing rationing measures.