Putin rejects Western security in Ukraine, warning troops would be target

The Russian leader's refusal comes after 26 countries pledged to deploy troops to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire.

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French President Emmanuel Macron said 26 of Ukraine's allies had formally committed to deploying troops "by land, sea or air" to help provide security the moment fighting was brought to a halt.

He did not detail any of the countries involved.

Putin sought to quash the allies' initiative, with a warning that any troops deployed to Ukraine would be "legitimate targets", especially if they appeared now, even though there are no plans for an immediate deployment.

Foreign troops in Ukraine "considered a danger to Russia", Kremlin tells BBCThere seems little hope of a ceasefire for now, after last month's summit in Alaska between Putin and US President Donald Trump briefly raised hopes of a meeting with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky and a potential peace deal.