Putin says Russia will target foreign troops deployed to Ukraine

During the talks at the Kremlin on Thursday, the Russian president insisted on full control over four Ukrainian regions that Moscow claims to have annexed. He described the deployment of foreign peacekeeping troops as a continuation of war and warned that Russia would target any such forces.

Putin's comments came as Ukrainian military officials reported new restrictions on Elon Musk's Starlink satellite service, which Zelenskyy said were damaging Ukraine's ability to defend itself against Russian drone attacks. The US envoys confirmed that European representatives would join the next round of talks and are scheduled to meet with Zelenskyy in Dublin to debrief him on the Moscow meeting.

European Security Concerns

The Kremlin has reframed negotiations over the war in Ukraine as part of a broader discussion about European security. However, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas dismissed this approach as a distraction without a ceasefire, noting that we already have a European security architecture in place. She listed the cold war-era Helsinki accords and the Budapest memorandum as existing frameworks that Russia is not honoring.

European Negotiation Standoff

Both Washington and Moscow have urged European leaders to appoint a single representative for negotiations. Putin stated that once such a representative is appointed, there will be a four-way dialogue. However, EU leaders meeting in Dublin have so far declined to nominate one person to speak for the bloc, with one official saying they don't expect an agreement on a special representative. Kallas suggested she should represent the EU alongside European Council President António Costa.

French President Emmanuel Macron played down the importance of having a single European negotiator, stating the content determines the format. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that it's not about individuals, what matters is that Putin is prepared to hold talks. More than 45 European leaders are attending the European Political Community summit in Dublin, excluding leaders from Belarus and Russia.

Starlink Restrictions Impact

Zelenskyy accused Starlink's military version, Starshield, of imposing speed limits of 100mph (161km/h) along the frontline and in Russian-occupied territory, making it harder for Ukrainian forces to intercept Russia's sophisticated jet-powered drones. Starlink is helping the Russians kill more Ukrainians and carry out more accurate strikes against Ukraine, he claimed.

Kyiv has contacted Washington seeking an explanation for the disruption, which Zelenskyy described as appearing deliberate rather than a technical fault. Similar restrictions last month led to finger-pointing between Musk and the Trump administration before the service was partially restored. The latest restrictions come amid a flurry of diplomatic activity, including recent talks in Abu Dhabi, as both sides attempt to find a path toward peace before the end of 2026.