Putin warns NATO that troop deployment in Ukraine means direct war with Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that the deployment of NATO troops to Ukraine would constitute a direct war with Russia. Speaking on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in New Delhi, Putin stated that while Russia does not threaten European nations, plans by certain NATO members to send troops to Ukrainian territory would cross a red line.

This warning comes as European allies debate security missions or peacekeeping forces to stabilize the front lines. The Kremlin maintains that any NATO military presence in Ukraine, even under a security guarantee mandate, would be viewed as a belligerent act.

In a separate development regarding the conflict, U.S. Special Envoy Jared Kushner stated that both Ukraine and Russia appear committed to finding an exit from the war, noting that the challenge lies in finding the proper formula for peace negotiations. Kushner indicated that President Donald Trump and other envoys are also dedicated to this goal.

Meanwhile, the conflict continues to see kinetic activity, including drone attacks in Russia's Tatarstan region that caused casualties and industrial damage, and Russian strikes against Ukrainian energy and logistics infrastructure.