In an interview published by TASS today, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said that if a “volunteer coalition” army from Europe appears in Ukraine, it will become a legitimate target for the Russian armed forces. Lavrov said that European politicians' ambitions blinded them. In mid-December, European leaders issued a statement saying that security guarantees for Ukraine should include the formation of a European-led “Ukrainian multinational force.” British Secretary of Defense John Healy later said that countries participating in the “volunteer coalition” have raised the level of combat readiness of their forces to deal with possible actions to send troops to Ukraine.

In an interview published by TASS today, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said that if a “volunteer coalition” army from Europe appears in Ukraine, it will become a legitimate target for the Russian armed forces. Lavrov said that European politicians' ambitions blinded them. In mid-December, European leaders issued a statement saying that security guarantees for Ukraine should include the formation of a European-led “Ukrainian multinational force.” British Secretary of Defense John Healy later said that countries participating in the “volunteer coalition” have raised the level of combat readiness of their forces to deal with possible actions to send troops to Ukraine.