Russia Condemns European Peacekeeping Initiative in Ukraine as Axis of War

On Thursday, Russia condemned a proposal to send European peacekeepers to Ukraine as «dangerous,» labeling Kyiv and its allies as an «axis of war.» This statement dampened hopes that the initiative might mark a breakthrough in the nearly four-year-long conflict.

US President Donald Trump has been advocating for a resolution between the conflicting parties, engaging in shuttle diplomacy with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky and Russia’s Vladimir Putin in an effort to secure a deal.

The initial 28-point proposal, which heavily favored Moscow’s demands, faced backlash from Kyiv and European nations. Moscow subsequently criticized the effort to increase protective measures for Ukraine if a peace agreement were to be achieved.

Allied nations of Ukraine announced earlier this week, following a summit in Paris, that they had established essential security guarantees for Kyiv, which included the deployment of a peacekeeping force.

However, in its first response since the summit, Moscow stated that the proposals were far from what the Kremlin would consider acceptable to conclude its military operations.

Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, described the rhetoric from the so-called Coalition of the Willing and the Kyiv government as forming a genuine «axis of war.» She referred to the plans suggested by Kyiv’s partners as «dangerous» and «destructive.»

These statements came amidst ongoing Russian attacks that plunged numerous Ukrainians into darkness, leaving many families without heating in sub-zero temperatures—strikes that Zelensky indicated demonstrate Russia’s continued warfare intentions.

Earlier this week, European leaders and US officials revealed that post-conflict assurances for Ukraine would include a monitoring mechanism led by the US, as well as deployment of a European multinational force once hostilities cease.

Nonetheless, Moscow has consistently warned against any NATO country sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine. Zakharova reiterated this stance on Thursday, stating that any such units would be deemed legitimate military targets by the Russian Armed Forces, echoing previous threats made by Putin.

Zelensky mentioned on Thursday that a bilateral agreement with Washington concerning US security guarantees was «essentially ready for finalization at the highest level with the President of the United States,» following discussions among diplomats in Paris earlier this week.

Kyiv has insisted that legally-binding commitments from its allies for defense are crucial to deter Russia from launching new offensives if a ceasefire is achieved. However, specific information regarding the guarantees, the European force, and its operational parameters has yet to be disclosed.

Zelensky also noted earlier in the week that he had not received a «clear» response regarding what actions would be taken if Russia were to attack again after a deal is established. Furthermore, he acknowledged that critical issues in any settlement, particularly regarding territorial control in the eastern Donbas region and the status of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, remain unresolved.

Meanwhile, Ukraine was working to restore heating and water to hundreds of thousands of homes following a recent assault on energy facilities in the Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia areas. Borys Filatov, the mayor of Dnipro, the capital of Dnipropetrovsk, characterized the situation as a significant national emergency on social media.

He shared that electricity was «gradually returning to the hospitals» after the power outages had forced them to rely on generators. Local authorities also extended school holidays for children in light of the circumstances. According to Ukrainian energy firm DTEK, around 600,000 households in the Dnipropetrovsk region were still without power.

In a social media post, Zelensky remarked that the attacks «clearly do not indicate that Moscow is reconsidering its priorities.»

In addition to the relentless bombardment of Dnipropetrovsk, Russia continued its ground assault in the region, claiming to have captured another village, which does not belong to the five Ukrainian territories that Moscow claims to have annexed.