Russia stated any European soldiers sent to Ukraine will go back in coffins

6 hours ago 

Newsweek.

What To Know

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Medvedev said Western officials were meeting in Paris on Thursday to discuss "how many European coffins they will be ready to accept" if peacekeeping troops are deployed in Ukraine.

EU, NATO, and non-NATO allies have said they are considering sending troops to Ukraine as part of a ceasefire deal being negotiated between Washington, Moscow, and Kyiv. A "coalition of the willing" led by the U.K. and France—which so far consists of about 15 countries—has proposed deploying troops to contribute to a "reassurance force."

While the force would not enter Ukraine until after an agreement is reached, Russia has made it clear that it will not tolerate any Western military presence on Ukrainian soil. Western leaders, however, argue that such a deployment would bolster European security and help deter future Russian aggression

Medvedev spoke on the heels of a visit by U.S. officials to Paris where European leaders are holding talks on the Ukraine war. Russia has condemned as NATO allies consider sending troops to Ukraine as part of a ceasefire deal being negotiated between Washington and Moscow.

Newsweek has contacted the Kremlin and NATO for comment by email.

Why It Matters

Medvedev, who is deputy chairman of the Security Council of Russia, is a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, and his viewpoints often align with those of the Russian leader. The killing of potential European peacekeepers in Ukraine would mark a major escalation in the conflict.

French President Emmanuel Macron said in March that Kyiv does not require Moscow's approval to request peacekeeping troops on Ukrainian soil.

Ukraine is sovereign—if it requests allied forces to be on its territory, it is not up to Russia to accept or reject it," Macron told French newspaper Le Parisien on March 15.

A senior British government source also told The Times newspaper of London in March that the West intends to deploy more than 10,000 troops in Ukraine to monitor a possible ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv. U.K. Defense Minister John Healey clarified on April 10 that the troops would not function as traditional peacekeepers but would provide direct assistance to Ukraine's military

What People Are Saying

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Security Council of Russia, said on X: "Apparently, the top of Ukraine's fascist clique have come to Paris for talks with the U.K., Germany and France on how many European coffins they will be ready to accept after the deployment of the troops of the 'coalition of the willing' in Ukraine."

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told Russian newspaper Izvestia in March that deploying such troops in Ukraine would be "absolutely inappropriate and absurd."

"We absolutely do not care under what label NATO contingents can be deployed on the territory of Ukraine: be it the European Union, NATO, or in their national capacity. In any case, if they appear there, it means that they are deployed in a conflict zone with all the consequences for these contingents as parties to the conflict."

What Happens Next
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff are speaking with European politicians and security advisers in Paris on Thursday as part of steps toward potentially brokering peace in the Ukraine war.

Source https://www.newsweek.com/putin-medvedev-nato-peacekeepers-ukraine-2060940

Points of diplomacy hourly Paris summit 

Trump says Ukraine minerals deal to be signed next week
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17 April 2025 • 7:58pm
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Donald Trump has said that a minerals deal will be signed with Ukraine next week...

Us state department press briefing.

04/17/2025

Marco Rubio.

PARIS, April 18 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump will walk away from trying to broker a Russia-Ukraine peace deal within days unless there are clear signs that a deal can be done, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday.

"We're not going to continue with this endeavour for weeks and months on end. So we need to determine very quickly now, and I'm talking about a matter of days whether or not this is doable in the next few weeks," Rubio said in Paris after meeting European and Ukrainian leaders.

.Trump said on Thursday he expected to sign a deal with Kyiv next week that would give the U.S. access to Ukraine's minerals.

Zelensky offers to buy patriot missiles and weapons with the United States.

Rubio said he spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov after the Paris talks and had told him they had been constructive, and also briefed him on "some of the elements of" the U.S. peace framework.

Rubio said the issue of U.S. security guarantees as part of any deal came up in the talks in Paris, without going into greater detail.

He said security guarantees was an issue "we can fix in sort of in a way that's acceptable to everyone," but "we have bigger challenges that we need to figure out, whether it's even possible within the short term".

He said it was clear that a peace deal would be difficult to strike but there needed to be signs it could be done soon.

Source https://www.reuters.com/world/us-ready-abandon-efforts-broker-russia-ukraine-peace-deal-rubio-says-2025-04-18/

In foreign relations, Trump is more of a deal breaker instead of a deal maker.  No surprise US could join other countries in failing to negotiate end to war.  Even when offered a temporary ceasefire accepted by Zelensky, Putin still refuses to stop his illegal invasion.  As the aggressor in starting this war, Russia hasn't finished yet in achieving its goals.  Polls show most Americans have no confidence in Putin doing the right thing.  However more Americans have confidence in Zelensky.

With the writing and systems discussed in Paris the Nato troops and the planning stage of a full all out assault by NATO against Russian occupation in Ukraine. Russia will either withdraw or lose 100,000 personal in a week.

Putin posturing and rhetoric echoes fear of European defense in Ukraine. He understands how his plans quickly unravel. Trumps pressure is backed by the minerals deal this isn't an easy task and miners will need serious defense, the railroad to connect the material to ports for export will need defense . The minerals deal backed with US and NATO security guarantee is pushing Russia to make a decision . That may not be in Russia immediately plans, but the status quo and endless blood bath will be decided in a month.

Reportedly war is ugly business.