Western troops in Ukraine would be ‘legitimate targets’, Putin says

Russian president’s threat follows French proposal for post-war support for Kyiv that includes presence of Nato countries’ forces

Vladimir Putin has said any western troops placed in Ukraine would be “legitimate targets” for Russian strikes, upping the stakes as Kyiv’s allies scramble to come up with a convincing offer of post-war support to Ukraine.

Speaking a day after the French president, Emmanuel Macron, announced still-vague plans for a package of support for Ukraine backed by 26 nations, Putin on Friday said any guarantees that involved boots on the ground would violate Moscow’s long-standing objections to Nato troops in Ukraine.