Putin Warns European Troops in Ukraine Would Trigger Direct War with Russia

Local officials reported that Russian air strikes killed at least eight civilians and wounded dozens of others in Ukraine on Saturday. The attacks came shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a stark warning to European nations, stating that any deployment of troops to Ukraine would amount to a direct war with Russia.

Speaking to reporters at a BRICS summit in India on Friday, Putin addressed growing discussions among European leaders about establishing a peacekeeping force in Ukraine. “Now they’re talking about how they’re considering sending troops into Ukraine. That means a war with Russia,” he said. Despite the warning, Putin asserted that Moscow poses no danger to Europe, claiming, “We do not threaten, nor do we intend to threaten, European countries.”

Tensions have escalated recently along Ukraine’s western borders. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk described two separate incidents this week as precursors to intensified Russian provocations. On Tuesday, Russian drones struck the Starokozache border crossing between Ukraine and Moldova, killing two people. A day later, a “direct threat” to a crossing point between Poland and Ukraine was neutralized through cooperation between Warsaw and Kyiv.

Inside Ukraine, the intensity of Russia’s air campaign has increased significantly. The Russian military is utilizing ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones to target the country’s power grid ahead of winter, an effort officials describe as aimed at demoralizing the civilian population.

Recent overnight strikes caused significant casualties and damage across multiple regions. In Zaporizhzhia, two people were killed and one wounded in a residential area. In Kryvyi Rih, one person died and three others were injured. In Odesa, regional head Oleh Kiper described a “massive attack” that wounded 35 people and completely destroyed the upper floors of a residential high-rise. Additionally, three people were killed when drones hit vehicles in Kramatorsk, and two more died in a strike on a grocery store in the Zhytomyr region.

In retaliation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukrainian forces had struck chemical industry facilities in the Russian regions of Samara and Perm. Russian independent outlet Astra reported drone attacks on chemical plants in both areas, though local governors did not immediately comment.

Regarding diplomatic efforts, Zelenskyy told Deutsche Welle that he would be willing to meet with Putin if both leaders were invited to the G20 summit scheduled for December in Miami. However, Kremlin officials have previously indicated that any meeting would need to take place in Moscow, a proposal Kyiv has rejected. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov affirmed on Saturday that Russia is “ready for negotiations,” but emphasized that the “special military operation” would not be suspended during this period.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that he had a “great conversation” with Putin and reiterated his belief that the Russian leader desires a deal to end the war. When asked about obstacles to a resolution, Trump attributed the deadlock to personal animosity, saying, “The holdup is two people that hate each other. I think more than anything else, it’s two people that hate each other.”