The head of Britain's foreign intelligence agency says there is "absolutely no evidence" that Russia's Vladimir Putin wants to negotiate peace in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that any Western troops in Ukraine would be considered “legitimate targets for defeat,” a day after it was announced that dozens of Western countries have pledged to contribute to a potential peacekeeping force there if a ceasefire deal is agreed.

Dmitry Kozak, a longtime associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin and one of the few senior Russian officials to oppose the invasion of Ukraine, has resigned from his post as the Kremlin's deputy chief of staff.

"If any troops appear there, especially now while fighting is ongoing, we assume that they will be legitimate targets," Putin says as the U.S. and Europe plan for a post-war Ukraine.

The former magazine editor faced up to 10 years behind bars in Russia before he agreed to fight on the frontlines.

Russia has already significantly increased its drone and missile strikes across Ukraine this year, repeatedly breaking its records of civilian casualties and weapons launched.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that any foreign troops deployed to Ukraine before a peace agreement has been signed would be considered “legitimate targets” by Moscow’s forces.