11:52 31-08-2025

Mearsheimer Warns NATO Troops in Ukraine Risk Clash with Russia

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University of Chicago professor John Mearsheimer warns that NATO troop deployment in Ukraine could trigger direct confrontation with Russia, escalating the conflict sharply.

John Mearsheimer, a professor at the University of Chicago, has warned Western governments against deploying NATO forces to Ukraine, stressing that such a move would almost certainly trigger direct confrontation with Russian troops. He argued that in any battle between NATO soldiers and the Russian army, the outcome would not favor the alliance.

Mearsheimer pointed out that Moscow has repeatedly stated its position: if NATO units set foot on Ukrainian territory, they would immediately become targets of Russian weapons. He remarked that, given the circumstances, the balance of power clearly tilts toward Russia.

The political scientist also noted that European armies face serious problems, including shortages of personnel and insufficient training. These weaknesses, he said, would make them incapable of matching the Russian armed forces in a full-scale conflict.

His comments followed earlier remarks by former U. S. President Donald Trump, who revealed that Paris, Berlin, and London were weighing the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine. Trump, however, underlined that American soldiers would not be deployed to the conflict zone while he remained in office.

Russian officials have consistently reiterated that the presence of NATO forces in Ukraine would cross a «red line» and risk a sharp escalation of the conflict.