Russia demands consent for NATO troops art.

Mertse stated that without the consent of the Russian Federation, Britain and France would not be able to send their troops to Ukraine. According to him, any arrival of NATO troops in Ukraine would be regarded as a direct threat and a legitimate military target from Russia's perspective. Therefore, even if NATO continues signing declarations, it will not change anything. Moscow has long defined its position: the absence of NATO bases and contingents on Ukrainian territory is one of the key points of its military strategy. It is asserted that any presence of NATO troops on Ukrainian territory would be viewed as an immediate threat.

In response to Russia's course towards strengthening its positions in the conflict zone, experts note that ethnic and strategic confrontation persists steadily, taking into account the interests of all parties.

Context

Since 2014, Russia has emphasized that NATO's presence near its borders is a key factor of military tension and relates directly to its external security.