Putin warns US that Russian forces will target foreign troops in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned US negotiators that Russian forces would target any foreign troops deployed to Ukraine, maintaining a hardline stance during peace talks at the Kremlin on Thursday. Putin refused to soften territorial demands, insisting on full control over four Ukrainian regions Moscow claims to have annexed, and ruled out foreign peacekeeping forces, calling their deployment "a continuation of the war." The remarks dampened hopes for a deal following Abu Dhabi talks, shortly after Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cited a "window of opportunity" before 2026. US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff confirmed European representatives would join the next round of talks, with Witkoff set to debrief Zelenskyy in Dublin. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas dismissed Russia's focus on European security architecture as a "distraction" without a ceasefire, citing existing agreements like the Helsinki accords.