THE recently held summit of the “coalition of the willing,” which reached a consensus to provide forces to Ukraine against Russia, has drawn a strong reaction from President Vladimir Putin, who rejected proposed Western security guarantees for Kyiv and warned that any foreign troops deployed there would be considered legitimate targets by Moscow.

Now in its third year, the Ukraine-Russia war continues to exact immense human and economic costs on both sides, underscoring the urgent need for regional peace and stability. It became clear that both Putin and Trump were seeking a lasting peace agreement rather than a fragile ceasefire. Russia engaged with the United States on an equal footing, countering the narrative of its international isolation. The summit reaffirmed Moscow’s exalted position in the global arena, gaining de facto recognition from President Trump. This marked international acknowledgment of Russia’s genuine security interests, which had long been dismissed by European powers and Ukraine as mere war-mongering or a threat to global order. Ukraine’s persistent pursuit of NATO membership, however, overlooks the profound security repercussions for Moscow. For Russia, this would transform the conflict from an operation to safeguard its sovereignty against Ukraine into a direct and dangerous confrontation........

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