Putin to Europe: Send Troops, Start a War
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that any European troops sent to Ukraine would mean direct war with Russia, as strikes killed three civilians and Europe rallied behind Kyiv.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that sending European troops into Ukraine would mean direct conflict with Russia, as Russian strikes killed three civilians and wounded dozens across the country [239159][239996]. The warning came as European leaders gathered in Kyiv for a weekend conference, showing growing unity and confidence that Russian aggression will not succeed [240318].
Putin said European leaders "are frightening their populations with an imaginary threat coming from Russia," adding that "this threat does not exist and has never existed" [239159]. His comments followed local officials' reports that Russian attacks killed three civilians and wounded dozens across Ukraine on Saturday [239996].
The strikes and the warning came as European leaders met in Kyiv for a weekend conference. Despite the United States, under President Trump, pulling back from its traditional role as protector of the free world, European leaders made their position clear: Russian aggression will not succeed [240318].
The conference highlighted Europe's growing unity and confidence in the face of Russia's ongoing invasion, now in its fourth year [240318].