Russia slams European peacekeeper plan as 'provocation'

Russia deems the deployment of a European peacekeeping contingent in Ukraine unacceptable, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said at a briefing on March 13, according to Report.

"For us, the deployment of units of the armed forces of other states in Ukraine under any flag is absolutely unacceptable—whether it be a foreign contingent, military bases, or so-called peacekeeping operations proposed by those who have removed the words 'peacekeeping' and 'peace' from their vocabulary altogether... (...) All of this would mean the direct involvement of these countries in a full-scale conflict with our country, to which we will respond with all available means," Zakharova said at the briefing.

According to her, even the discussion of such initiatives is a provocative step that does not contribute to conflict resolution.

"It is telling that Washington is distancing itself—at least in words—from the plans of London and Paris to deploy any kind of contingent in Ukraine. I think this is because they understand, among other things, what the military consequences of such actions could be," Zakharova said.