Kremlin says any UK plan to send troops to Ukraine would be unacceptable for Russia

MOSCOW, Feb 20 (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Thursday that any British plan to send troops to Ukraine as part of a potential peacekeeping mission would be unacceptable for Russia and that it was monitoring statements by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer with concern.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the proposal was unacceptable because it would involve forces from a NATO member state and therefore have ramifications for Russia's own security.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said this week that Moscow views as a "direct threat" the idea of having NATO member troops on the ground in Ukraine, even if they operate there under a different flag.