Foreign troops stationed in Ukraine would be considered legitimate military objectives, according to Putin's statements.

In the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, both countries have been experiencing significant impacts. Here's a recap of the key events that took place over the past week.

Russian drones launched attacks on Ukraine's Chernihiv region, causing power outages in at least 15 settlements. The attacks also resulted in damage to residential buildings in Dnipro, central Ukraine. Ukraine's air defenses managed to shoot down or jam 121 of the drones, according to the Ukrainian air force, while Russian forces claimed to have destroyed 92 Ukrainian drones.

The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, has declared that any foreign troops deployed to Ukraine during the invasion are legitimate targets for Moscow's forces. In response, Ukraine has stepped up attacks on Russian oil infrastructure.

The energy sector has been affected on both sides. Gas stations have run dry in some regions of Russia due to disrupted shipments, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has offered to supply oil and gas to Slovakia that doesn't come from Russia.

Zelenskyy has maintained that Russian oil and gas have no future in Europe. European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, have pledged to deploy a peacekeeping force in Ukraine once the fighting ends. Macron stated that 26 of Ukraine's allies have committed to deploying troops or maintaining a presence to help guarantee Ukraine's security after a ceasefire or peace.

Political leaders from Poland, Germany, and the United Kingdom have pledged to provide troops as "verification forces" for Ukraine once active combat operations have ended. Slovakian Prime Minister Igor Matovič's ally, Robert Fico, voiced his support for Kyiv's bid to join the EU and offered to share Slovakia's experience.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump urged European leaders to stop buying Russian oil, stating that these purchases help fund Moscow's war against Ukraine. Trump's call was echoed by Zelenskyy, who emphasized that Ukraine would continue to respond to Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities.

Amidst the conflict, both Russia and Ukraine have faced internal challenges. The Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, stated that Moscow would need legally binding documents to outline agreements regarding security guarantees. In Russia, Ryazan regional Governor Pavel Malkov warned residents not to post images of air defenses on social media due to security concerns, and local social media channels reported a fire at the Rosneft oil refinery in the city of Ryazan.

Despite the ongoing conflict, there are signs of hope for a peaceful resolution. Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of security guarantees working during the war, not just after it ends. Putin, however, dismissed the idea of peacekeeping forces in Ukraine after a final peace deal, stating that no one should doubt Moscow's compliance with a treaty to halt its invasion of Ukraine.