Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov just made it explicit: Any European troops stationed in Ukraine become legitimate military targets for Russia.
Not "concerning." Not "regrettable." Legitimate targets. Meaning Russia will shoot.
This kills the entire framework Trump's team has been negotiating. Remember the proposed International Stabilization Force? The technocratic Palestinian government model applied to Ukraine? European peacekeepers monitoring a demilitarized zone?
Russia just said: Send them, we'll kill them.
Here's the strategic calculation: Western leaders have been floating peacekeeping forces as the answer to "how do we guarantee Ukraine's security without NATO membership?"
Lavrov's response eliminates that middle ground. Either Ukraine gets no foreign troops (Russia's preference), or foreign troops come and Russia treats it as war with Europe (Russia's threat).
No peacekeeping. No stabilization force. No European boots on ground without direct Russia-Europe conflict.
This isn't posturing. Russia already struck Ukrainian facilities with Western advisors present. They've demonstrated willingness to hit targets containing foreign personnel.
Lavrov's making policy explicit: European soldiers in Ukraine = combatants.
