Russia will go to war with Nato if troops are deployed to Ukraine - Kremlin

The Kremlin has warned that a conflict between Russia and Nato would be inevitable if European members of the alliance send troops to fight in Ukraine.

French president Emmanuel Macron opened the door on Monday to European nations sending troops to Ukraine, although he cautioned that there was no consensus at this stage as allies agreed to ramp up efforts to deliver more munitions to Kyiv.

“Nothing should be excluded. We will do everything that we must so that Russia does not win,” Mr Macron said.

Asked about Mr Macron’s remarks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that if it came to pass, talks would have to change to the inevitability of a Nato-Russia conflict.

“In that case, we would need to talk not about the probability, but about the inevitability (of a direct conflict),” Mr Peskov said.

Discussion by Western democracies of direct military intervention in Ukraine’s war against Russia is good and shows awareness of the risk to Europe from Russian aggression, a senior Ukrainian presidential official told Reuters.

“This shows, firstly, an absolute awareness of the risks posed to Europe by a militaristic, aggressive Russia,” presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said.

Jens Stoltenberg, Nato’s secretary-general, said there are no plans for Nato combat troops on the ground in Ukraine.