Russia takes a swipe at Macron on plans for peacekeepers in Ukraine

Russia took a swipe at Emmanuel Macron on Monday after the French president spoke about peacekeeping in Ukraine.

Macron had said Kyiv does not require Moscow’s approval to request peacekeeping troops on Ukrainian soil.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko spoke with newspaper Izvestia.

This comes as NATO allies consider sending troops to Ukraine as part of a ceasefire deal being negotiated between Washington and Moscow.

Moscow is making clear that it will not accept the deployment of a Western peacekeeping force in Ukraine.

Kyiv’s NATO allies have said doing so would safeguard Europe’s collective security and deter potential future Russian aggression.

Although the Kremlin has previously rejected this idea on several occasions, Grushko’s comments represent its strongest rejection yet.

While speaking with a French print media on Saturday, Macron said,

“Ukraine is sovereign—if it requests allied forces to be on its territory, it is not up to Russia to accept or reject it.”

A senior British government source also spoke with  the Times newspaper of London.

He said that the West intends to deploy more than 10,000 troops in Ukraine to monitor a possible ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv.

Grushko said deploying such troops in Ukraine would be “absolutely inappropriate and absurd.”

However, he added that Russia would be open to the presence of unarmed observers.

He said Russia would also be open to a civilian mission in Ukraine.

This would be to allow Ukraine monitor the implementation of certain aspects of the agreement or guarantee mechanisms.”

Grushko added,

“We absolutely do not care under what label NATO contingents can be deployed on the territory of Ukraine: be it the European Union, NATO, or in their national capacity

“In any case, if they appear there, it means that they are deployed in a conflict zone with all the consequences for these contingents as parties to the conflict.”

Taking a dig at Macron, the deputy foreign minister accused the French president of offering up his soldiers to distract from domestic issues.

“The country is going through a serious crisis; it is being shaken by demonstrations;

“Emmanuel Macron and the political forces that support him are not in a very strong position,” said Grushko.

“Therefore, the introduction of such a loud topic as sending a military contingent is intended, among other things, to distract public attention from domestic problems.”

Russia will demand “ironclad” guarantees in any potential peace deal.

This is aimed at ensuring that Ukraine will remain neutral and give up its aspirations to join NATO, the diplomat added.

U.S. officials are engaging in talks with Moscow aimed at bringing an end to the war, which is now in its fourth year.

Ukraine has agreed to support a Washington-backed proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in the war.

President Donald Trump has threatened to hit Russia with “large-scale sanctions” and tariffs.

This will be if his Russian counterpart doesn’t agree to a ceasefire and peace deal.

Vladimir Putin’s aide, Yuri Ushakov, told state-owned media on March 16:

“We see this as an effort to provide Ukrainian forces with a pause during a difficult period.

The Russian army is advancing on all fronts, and, under these circumstances, the ceasefire could be viewed as a way to allow Ukraine to strengthen its position.”

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