MOSCOW. March 13 (Interfax) - Deploying a European peacekeeping contingent in Ukraine is unacceptable to Moscow, since it would be a direct involvement in the conflict with Russia, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said.
"Deploying military units of other countries under any flag in Ukraine, either a foreign contingent or military bases or peacekeeping operations of some kind proposed by those who have removed the word peacekeeping and peace in general from their vocabulary, are completely unacceptable to us. [...] That would mean the involvement of such countries in a direct, corpulent conflict with our country to which we will react by any means available," Zakharova said at a press briefing.
"The very declaration of such plans is an openly provocative step, which does not aim to settle the conflict, but seeks to support the unhealthy and harmful illusions" of the Ukrainian administration, she said.
"Notably, Washington is distancing itself from London and Paris' plans - at least in words - to deploy any kind of contingent in Ukraine. I think because, among other things, it assumes what this could lead to from the military angle," Zakharova said.