In a classic carrot-and-stick approach, Vladimir Putin has dangled the possibility of a meeting with President Zelenskyy in Moscow while simultaneously issuing a grave threat to the West. The Russian president warned that any Western troops in Ukraine would be considered “legitimate targets,” a move aimed at derailing a European security plan for Kyiv.
The threat is a direct response to a proposal from French President Emmanuel Macron, now backed by 26 nations, to deploy a military force to Ukraine after the war. This plan is seen by Kyiv as essential for its long-term security. Putin’s warning, however, reframes it as a hostile act that would be met with Russian military force.
The “offer” of a meeting is viewed with deep suspicion by Ukraine. Putin has coupled it with the statement that a peace deal is “practically impossible,” rendering the purpose of such a summit questionable. Zelenskyy has expressed his readiness for talks but remains unconvinced of Putin’s sincerity in wanting to end the war.
This dual strategy of threat and hollow diplomacy is aimed at fracturing the Western alliance. Putin is aware that the prospect of sending troops is highly divisive in Europe, with countries like Germany strongly opposed. By raising the stakes, he hopes to make the plan politically toxic and ultimately unworkable for Kyiv’s allies.
