Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a stern warning to European countries about the possibility of deploying military personnel into Ukraine. Speaking at the BRICS summit in India on Friday, Putin said sending European troops into Ukraine would mean “a war with Russia.” He also said Russia did not intend to threaten European countries.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk reported on Thursday that recent events along Ukraine’s borders with Poland and Moldova could signal a rise in Russian actions aimed at destabilizing the region. Tusk said two people were killed when Russian drones struck the Starokozache crossing between Ukraine and Moldova. He also said a threat to a Polish-Ukrainian border crossing was avoided through cooperation between Poland and Ukraine.
The situation in Ukraine continues to deteriorate as Russia escalates its air campaign, using ballistic missiles and advanced drones to attack defenses. Local officials confirmed one fatality and three injuries following attacks on the city of Kryvyi Rih. Reuters later reported that Russian attacks across Ukraine on Saturday killed 10 civilians and injured dozens.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukrainian forces had targeted two chemical industry facilities in Russia, one located in Samara and another in Perm, according to CBS News. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded to questions about a potential meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin by stating that Putin had previously said Zelenskyy could travel to Moscow for talks. Zelenskyy has separately said he is willing to meet Putin if both leaders attend the G20 summit in Miami in December.
U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in on the situation, saying he believes Putin wants to make a deal to end the conflict through diplomacy. Russia could withdraw its forces and give up occupied territory at any moment, but negotiations have not yet moved forward. A reporter questioned Trump about the delay in reaching an agreement.
Trump replied that the main obstacle is the personal enmity between Zelenskyy and Putin. Trump described the delay as being caused by “two people that hate each other.”
The ongoing conflict has drawn attention to the broader implications of military involvement in Eastern Europe. Both Ukraine and Russia continue to exchange attacks as international efforts to mediate peace remain stalled. European leaders are carefully considering their options amid growing pressure from Moscow.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow remained ready for negotiations. He also said Russia would not suspend its military operations while negotiations were taking place. Meanwhile, Ukraine is preparing for possible renewed trilateral talks with Russia and the United States in October, according to Reuters.
The situation remains fluid, with no clear resolution in sight.
IMAGE: Vladimir Putin and Ahmed al-Sharaa (2026-01-28) Credit: Presidential Executive Office of Russia CC4