Putin says European troop deployment in Ukraine would be ‘war against Russia’
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that any deployment of European troops to Ukraine would be considered an act of war against Russia. He dismissed claims that Russia poses a threat to Europe, characterizing such fears as imaginary.
Why it matters
This rhetoric escalates geopolitical tensions and clarifies Russia's stance on Western military involvement in the ongoing conflict.
President Vladimir Putin warned on Friday (September 11, 2026) that any deployment of European troops to Ukraine would amount to "a war against Russia" and said Moscow did not "pose a threat".
"At the moment, they say they are considering how to send troops onto Ukrainian territory. That means a war against Russia," Russian news agencies quoted him as saying, referring to European leaders.
"We are not threatening and have no intention of threatening European countries. Why would we? No one even realises that we have no reason to enter into conflict with Europe," he said.
He said European leaders "are frightening their populations with an imaginary threat coming from Russia".
"This threat does not exist and has never existed," he added.
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