Russia considers it unacceptable for Western powers to deploy forces in Ukraine under a possible future peace deal, and any such soldiers would be considered by Moscow to be legitimate targets, the foreign ministry said ⁠on Thursday.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Western powers such as Britain knew perfectly well that the deployment of such forces was unacceptable to Russia but had insisted on it in draft peace proposals in a bid to undermine the process.

"Well aware of the unacceptability of such a scenario ⁠for Russia, the British are using it as another tool to undermine the peace process," Zakharova told reporters.

"Any foreign troops in Ukraine will be considered as legitimate targets for the Russian armed forces. The British component will be no exception." (Reuters)