During an address in the Verkhovna Rada, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that alliance troops would be deployed on Ukrainian territory immediately after a peace agreement is signed.

He explained that once such an agreement is concluded, NATO member states that have given their consent would promptly provide armed forces on the ground, aircraft in the sky and naval support at sea. Rutte also noted that bloc countries are ready to step in quickly with assistance for Kiev and are already working with Ukraine on the development of new weapons systems and their rapid delivery.

Earlier, on 6 January, Paris hosted a high-level meeting of the so-called «coalition of the willing», where security guarantees for Ukraine were a central topic. Following the talks, European leaders agreed to continue long-term military support for the Kiev regime. The participants also signed a declaration envisaging the deployment of a military contingent on Ukrainian territory once a peace agreement is in place.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry has previously stated that any scenario involving the stationing of NATO member states’ troops in Ukraine is entirely unacceptable for Moscow and carries the risk of a sharp escalation of the conflict.