Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov attend the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting at Bishkek’s Congress Hall, December 9, 2022. Image Credit: Vyacheslav Oseledko / AFP
(The Post News) – On Wednesday, the Kremlin once again rejected the possibility of NATO troops being deployed to Ukraine. This announcement came after Russian forces advanced into the Dnipropetrovsk region and carried out strikes on gas and oil infrastructure.
In his daily briefing, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to mediate an end to the war in Ukraine as “very important”. However, he stressed that Moscow takes a negative view of European proposals to provide Ukraine with NATO-like security guarantees.
The security framework, outlined during Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier this month, was designed to reassure Ukraine that it would be protected against further Russian aggression. The proposed guarantees include long-term commitments of weapons, training, intelligence sharing, political backing, and financial aid from Western allies until Kyiv can secure full NATO membership.
While Trump has emphasised that no American combat troops would be deployed to Ukrainian soil, he did not rule out the possibility of allied countries contributing forces or the provision of other types of US military assistance. The Kremlin has consistently warned that NATO expansion into Eastern Europe is a “red line,” and Peskov’s remarks emphasise Russia’s ongoing opposition to any security framework that brings Ukraine closer to the alliance.
Peskov insists that the invasion is to target military and military-connected targets only, not civilians. This follows the Kremlin targeting gas and energy production facilities in the Poltava, Sumy and Chernihiv regions in addition to the invasion. Moscow framed the attack as a strategic move, claiming that they targeted the energy systems and related infrastructure because they play an important role in sustaining Ukraine’s war effort.
President Zelensky confirmed the strikes, estimating that more than 100,000 civilians had been affected by the outages and destruction. “Strikes on our cities and villages continue. New victims every day,” Zelensky said. He argued that the renewed attacks signal setbacks for diplomacy and reflect poorly on the chances of constructive meetings or agreements. He added that “Pressure is needed. We count on it.”.
Ukraine’s armed forces acknowledged that Russian troops had entered Dnipropetrovsk but said the Kremlin had not yet established control or laid claim to captured land. Zelensky emphasized that his government was in contact with NATO allies and European leaders, “actively preparing the architecture of strong and multilateral security guarantees” to protect Ukraine’s sovereignty.
The Kremlin’s latest offensive has deepened unease across Europe, where some leaders view Russia as the most pressing security challenge in that region. NATO member, European leader and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, addressing parliament in Berlin, warned that Moscow “is and will remain the greatest threat to European security”. In response, Merz announced that Germany passed the bill to reintroduce compulsory military service, a move aimed at potentially boosting the Bundeswehr’s manpower from 180,000 to 260,000 troops.
Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports suggested Ukraine may have struck back last night. Local media cited a “powerful explosion” that damaged an oil pipeline supplying Moscow, temporarily halting Russian oil flows. While Ukrainian forces have conducted sabotage missions in the past, neither Kyiv nor Moscow has officially confirmed these claims.
Ukraine continues to push for stronger Western guarantees, while Moscow’s military actions suggest it has no intention of easing pressure. Sky News security and defence analyst Michael Clarke notes that Russia is acting in a very strategic way, using even small territorial gains to put pressure on Ukraine and stretch its defences. He warns that positions established in areas like Dnipropetrovsk, even if limited, could serve as footholds for further operations, such as military bases.
This would give Moscow both military and negotiating advantages at the next ceasefire meetings if left unchecked, demonstrating the Kremlin’s calculated and methodical approach to the conflict.
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