Russia says sending British troops to Ukraine would prolong war, not end it

Moscow: Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said ⁠on Thursday that any deployment of ⁠British troops in Ukraine ‌would prolong ​the war, not end it.

France and Britain have said they intend to send troops ​to Ukraine once ⁠a ceasefire in the war with Russia is reached.

British Defence Minister John Healey wrote ⁠in ‌a weekend newspaper article: "I want to be the defence ‌secretary who deploys British troops to ⁠Ukraine – because this will mean that this war is ‌finally over."

Zakharova told ‌reporters: "Contrary to Healey's misconception, the deployment ‌of British troops ‌to Ukraine will not mean the end of the war, but rather a ⁠prolongation ⁠of the conflict and an increase in the risk of a large-scale military confrontation involving many more states."

She repeated a warning by Russia that ​it would see any foreign troops ​in Ukraine ​as legitimate targets.