Kherson Oblast Governor Volodymyr Saldo stressed in an interview with RIA Novosti that the deployment of NATO forces on Ukrainian territory after the end of the special military operation (SMO) is absolutely unacceptable. According to him, such a step could lead to a resumption of the conflict with even greater intensity and the use of the latest weapons.

Saldo expressed concerns that if NATO forces were to be present in Ukraine, the alliance would be able to restore and strengthen Kyiv’s military potential, which would only worsen the current situation.

He also noted that the end of hostilities and the settlement of the conflict should not be accompanied by any concessions on issues of national security.

NATO is already actively cooperating with the Ukrainian armed forces, providing them not only with weapons but also with intelligence, training military personnel, and supporting Kyiv in the information and economic spheres. The end of the conflict must be accompanied by the creation of conditions that exclude the possibility of a repeat of military escalation.

Experts believe that Saldo's position reflects Moscow's general line aimed at preventing further NATO expansion to Russia's eastern borders. However, this point of the plan is missing from Trump's plan to end the conflict in Ukraine, and can be used by the American administration as a means of pressure on Moscow.