The Western countries are playing with fire when discussing the possibility of sending their troops to Ukraine, Russian Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

 He described as dangerous the very fact such an idea was mentioned by French President Emmanuel Macron, Tass news agency reported. 

Peskov said Moscow is hearing "many contradictory statements" from the West about sending NATO troops to Ukraine, but "the very fact of this discussion is dangerous."

He pointed out that Macron's statements to the effect that a discussion should begin on this score came amid speculations that the West wants to see Russia suffer a strategic defeat.

"They are all playing with fire," Peskov warned. He added that together with German officers’ discussion of strikes on Russia all this leads "to a further degradation of the situation."

"Of course, this is extremely irresponsible behavior," Peskov stated.

He pointed out that Moscow was keen to achieve its goals and that "Russia is open to political and diplomatic ways of achieving them."