Kremlin spokesman says direct conflict between Russia and NATO ‘inevitable’ if troops from alliance’s countries sent to Ukraine

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that if NATO military forces enter Ukrainian territory, it would lead to a direct conflict between Russia and NATO.

His comments followed a statement by French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday who said the possibility of European troops being sent to Ukraine could not be ruled out. 

“In this case, we need to talk not about the probability, but about the inevitability [of a conflict],” Peskov said at a press briefing.

“The very fact that the possibility of NATO countries sending certain contingents to Ukraine is being discussed is, of course, very important, a new element,” said Peskov. He added that other NATO countries “maintain a fairly sober assessment of the potential dangers of such an action,” as a direct conflict with Russia is not in their interests.