Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Friday that any Western forces sent to Ukraine would be considered a “legitimate” target for Moscow’s military. His remarks came a day after Kyiv’s allies confirmed plans to deploy troops if a peace deal is reached.

On Thursday, two dozen countries, led by France and Britain, pledged to join a “reassurance” force across land, sea, and air to monitor any agreement.

Speaking at an economic forum in Vladivostok, Putin said, “If some troops appear there, especially during active fighting, we proceed from the premise that they will be legitimate targets.”

He added that the deployment of such forces would not support long-term peace and cited Ukraine’s growing military ties with the West as one of the “root causes” of the conflict.

Ukraine’s allies have not provided detailed information about the plan, including troop numbers or each country’s specific role.

Kyiv maintains that security guarantees backed by Western forces are essential to prevent Russia from restarting its offensive.

Since Moscow launched its invasion in February 2022, tens of thousands have been killed, millions displaced, and much of eastern and southern Ukraine has been devastated.

Putin said if a deal could be struck, there was no need for the troops.

“If decisions are reached that will lead to peace, to long-term peace, then I simply don’t see the point in their presence on the territory of Ukraine.

“Because if deals are reached, let no one doubt that Russia will comply with them in full,” he said.

Ukraine and the West point to a long list of times Russia has broken agreements, including between 2014 and 2022, when Moscow-backed separatists were fighting Kyiv’s army in the east of the country.

• Dozen countries vow to join “reassurance” force in Ukraine.
• Deployment of force not conducive to long-term peace: Putin.
• He says Moscow will comply with deals if they’re reached. 

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Friday that any Western forces deployed to Ukraine would be a “legitimate” target for Moscow’s army, a day after Kyiv’s allies said they had committed to a troop presence in the event of a peace deal.

Two dozen countries, led by France and Britain, pledged Thursday to join a “reassurance” force on land, at sea and in the air to patrol any deal.

“If some troops appear there, especially now during the fighting, we proceed from the premise that they will be legitimate targets,” Putin said at an economic forum in the far eastern city of Vladivostok.

He added that the deployment of such a force was not conducive to long-term peace and said Ukraine’s closer military ties with the West were one of what he calls the “root causes” of the conflict.

Ukraine’s allies have not revealed any specific details of the plan, including how many troops it would involve and how specific countries would contribute.

Kyiv says security guarantees, backed by Western troops, are crucial to any peace deal to ensure Russia does not re-launch its offensive in the future.

Tens of thousands have been killed since Moscow launched its offensive in February 2022, forcing millions from their homes and destroying much of eastern and southern Ukraine.

Putin said if a deal could be struck, there was no need for the troops.

“If decisions are reached that will lead to peace, to long-term peace, then I simply don’t see the point in their presence on the territory of Ukraine.

“Because if deals are reached, let no one doubt that Russia will comply with them in full,” he said.

Ukraine and the West point to a long list of times Russia has broken agreements, including between 2014 and 2022, when Moscow-backed separatists were fighting Kyiv’s army in the east of the country.

With two months to go, the “COP30 Hotel,” spruced up and renamed after the UN climate conference due to take place in the Amazonian city of Belem in November, has zero bookings.

The owners had been hoping to cash in on the conference by filling all the rooms with foreign delegates.

But the hotel’s eye-watering initial rates — a cool $1,200 per night, which it later lowered to try to drum up business — were a turnoff.

Delegations from governments, NGOs and civil society have repeatedly urged Brazil to put a limit on accommodation costs that have soared for the first-ever climate COP (Conference of the Parties) to be held in the Amazon.

It is a symbolic setting given the rainforest’s critical role in absorbing planet-warming carbon dioxide, but also a challenging one.

More than half of Belem’s 1.4 million residents live in shantytowns — the highest rate of any regional capital in Brazil.

And with a shortage of traditional hotel rooms, conference organizers have scrambled to find alternative accommodation in private homes, universities and schools, and even two cruise ships docked in the harbor some 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the conference center.

As many as 50,000 people were expected to attend COP30, though organizers say only 68 of the 198 participating countries have secured their reservations.

“This has never happened at a COP. Normally, everyone has their accommodation sorted three months in advance,” Marcio Astrini of the NGO Climate Observatory told AFP.

Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has batted away concerns, saying in February that delegates can “sleep under the stars.”

Most exclusive COP?

A free-for-all ensued as Belem residents seek to profit from the one-off event that saw an investment of some $700 million in public infrastructure, including a convention centre.

“Prices spiralled out of control,” conceded COP30 Hotel manager Alcides Moura, adding that “Belem never hosted an event of this magnitude.”

Ronaldo Franca, a 65-year-old pensioner, is one of several property owners hoping to make a quick buck by renting out his weekend house, some 25 kilometres (15.5 miles) from the conference venue.

For a property with three double bedrooms and a swimming pool, he is charging $370 per night.

“I’m not going to charge an exorbitant rent, but the government hasn’t sufficiently monitored prices, and some have skyrocketed,” he told AFP.

Organisers say 60% of delegates will rent rooms from Belem residents.

Hotels “are almost all full,” said Toni Santiago, president of the hotel association of Para state. It has rejected a government request to cap prices.

“No one does this for other major global events, so why should Belem?” asked Santiago.

The government has set up a task force to help delegates find rooms, and Para governor Helder Barbalho told AFP “the availability of beds is guaranteed.”

Airbnb, for its part, said the average price for accommodation has dropped by 22% since February.

However, an online search yielded few options for under $100 a night — the limit requested by the UN for delegates from poor countries.

Astrini told AFP that accommodation concerns were overshadowing “what is truly important, like emission reduction goals or climate financing” — issues on the agenda for COP30.

This COP, added the Climate Observatory, could turn out to be “the most exclusive in history.”