File photo of Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova.

MOSCOW, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Any military units and facilities deployed by Western countries on Ukrainian territory will be regarded as legitimate targets of the Russian Armed Forces, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement on Thursday.

"These warnings have been issued repeatedly at the highest level and remain valid," she said, adding that the deployment of Western facilities will be deemed foreign intervention, which poses a direct threat to the security of not only Russia but also other European states.

The new militaristic declarations issued by the so-called coalition of willing parties and Kiev have turned them into a veritable "axis of war," she said.

Zakharova stressed that the West's plan for the further militarization of Ukraine is far from a peaceful settlement, but rather aimed at continuing militarization, escalating and expanding the conflict.

The statement said a peaceful settlement of the conflict is possible only by addressing its root causes, including restoring Ukraine's neutral, non-aligned status, its demilitarization and "denazification," respect for the linguistic, cultural and religious rights of ethnic Russians, Russian-speaking citizens and national minorities, and recognition of the current territorial realities.

Zakharova said these goals would be achieved either through political and diplomatic means or through the special military operation, adding that Russian forces retain the initiative on the battlefield.