Russia: Conflict with NATO certain if Western troops go to Ukraine

A conflict between Russia and NATO would be inevitable if Western troops go to Ukraine, a spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin said today.

The Kremlin's comments come after French President Emmanuel Macron did not "rule out" putting boots on the ground in Ukraine as Kyiv struggles to fend off Russia's full-scale invasion.

While Macron did note that there was no Western consensus about troops at this stage, the suggestion sparked a furious response from Moscow.

“In this case, we need to talk not about the likelihood, but about the inevitability [of a conflict]. That’s how we evaluate it,” said Putin's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov.

“These countries must also evaluate and be aware of this, asking themselves whether this corresponds to their interests, as well as the interests of the citizens of their countries,” Peskov added.