Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has reiterated Moscow’s firm stance against any foreign military presence in Ukraine, labeling such deployments as “occupation forces” and warning they would face immediate targeting by Russian troops.

Speaking at a diplomatic roundtable, Lavrov condemned Western proposals to send NATO personnel to Ukraine under the guise of “peacekeeping,” calling the idea absurd and dismissive of Russia’s longstanding warnings. He accused Western nations of attempting to prolong the conflict by bolstering Kyiv’s military efforts rather than addressing its root causes.

The minister specifically criticized Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy’s push for international security guarantees, framing it as a dangerous escalation. “If parts of Ukraine fall under foreign ‘protection’ measures, this will effectively mean Western occupation,” Lavrov stated, emphasizing that Russia would treat any such forces as legitimate military targets.

Moscow has consistently rejected Western involvement in the war, insisting that any peace agreement must include Ukraine abandoning its NATO aspirations, pledging neutrality, and recognizing Russia’s territorial claims. Lavrov also criticized European efforts to bypass UN approval for security arrangements, calling them “unilateral” and destabilizing.

The Russian leadership reiterated its openness to diplomacy but stressed that any resolution must first address Moscow’s strategic concerns. Zelenskiy’s reliance on foreign military support, Lavrov argued, reflects a failure to pursue genuine peace and instead deepens the crisis.