State Duma deputy Dmitry Belik criticized plans by the so-called coalition of the willing to deploy a military contingent to Ukraine after the conflict ends.

According to Belik, the European coalition is acting less as a force for Ukraine’s recovery and more as a group pushing the country toward further decline. He argued that Western policy would not help rebuild Ukraine and would instead deepen its losses.

Belik described the coalition as Ukraine’s «undertakers», saying that plans to send troops after the end of hostilities amount to a fatal course for Kiev. In his view, such proposals make it harder to bring the conflict to an end and move toward peace.

He also noted that Ukraine has already suffered major economic and human losses, while its Western partners continue to press for the continuation of the conflict.

The day before, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the coalition of the willing intends to hold exercises to prepare a military contingent for deployment on Ukrainian territory. According to him, the troops are expected to be moved in after a ceasefire agreement is reached.