A key ally of Vladimir Putin has issued a chilling warning that European troops potentially deployed to Ukraine as peacekeepers would return in coffins. Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev made the comments as top European, Ukrainian and US officials met in Paris for talks on ending the three-year full-scale war in Ukraine, which began following the unlawful invasion ordered by Putin in February 2022.

The Deputy Chair of Russia’s Security Council hit out at the talks and Ukraine’s involvement. Repeating the Russian propaganda trope that the Kyiv government is led by the far-right, he said on X: “Apparently, the top of Ukraine’s fascist clique have come to Paris for talks with the UK, Germany and France on how many European coffins they will be ready to accept after the deployment of the troops of the "coalition of the willing" in Ukraine.” The Coalition of the Willing, led by the UK and France, could see mainly European troops deployed to Ukraine in a peacekeeping role to help enforce a potential ceasefire.

American Secretary of State Macro Rubio said a US peace framework received an “encouraging reception” during Thursday’s talks at the Elysee presidential palace, while French President Emmanuel Macron said the discussions were a “very important occasion”.

Russia has rejected the idea of peacekeepers from NATO nations in Ukraine as peace talks brokered by the US continue to make little progress.

Mr Rubio has warned the US will walk away from the talks unless there are signs of progress in the coming days.

“We need to figure out here now, within a matter of days, whether this [the peace deal] is doable in the short term, because if it's not, then I think we're just going to move on," he said.

"We're not going to continue with this endeavour for weeks and months on end.”

Ending the war has been a priority for US President Donald Trump, who, before being elected, claimed he could stop the fighting in a day.

Russia and Ukraine last month agreed to a halt on attacks on energy infrastructure but both sides have accused each other of breaking the deal.

A ceasefire has also been in place in the Black Sea.

At least one has died and nearly 60 were injured after a Russian missile strike on Ukraine overnight, officials said.

The strike damaged 15 residential buildings in Kharkiv, the city’s mayor said.

Further talks between Europe and US on Ukraine are expected to be held in London in the coming days, according to a French official.