Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov Tuesday declined to comment directly on United States President Donald Trump’s claim that Russia would accept peacekeeping troops in Ukraine, but referred to an earlier rejection of the idea by the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
“There is a position on this matter that was expressed by Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov. I have nothing to add to this and nothing to comment on,” said Peskov.
Following talks with the U.S. in Riyadh, Lavrov called the presence of the European peacekeepers in Ukraine “unacceptable.”
“Therefore, we explained today, the appearance of armed forces troops from the same NATO countries, but under a foreign flag — under the EU flag or national flags — does not change anything in this regard. This is, of course, unacceptable for us,” Lavrov said.
Trump said Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin was ready to accept European peacekeepers in Ukraine in a potential breakthrough that could help end Russia’s war against Kyiv.
“He will accept that. I have asked him that question,” Trump said of Putin when asked directly about the deployment of European troops. “Look, if we do this deal, he’s not looking for more war … I’ve specifically asked him that question. He has no problem with it.”
In the past, the Kremlin has repeatedly stated that deploying foreign peacekeepers in Ukraine would represent an escalation.
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