The majority of allies within hours closed the door opened by French President Emmanuel Macron to the possible sending of Western troops to Ukraine to ensure Russia does not win the war. Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain, Sweden, Poland and the Czech Republic did so on the same Tuesday, most of them through the mouth of their prime ministers. They followed in the footsteps of Slovakia and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who had already declared on Monday evening that the alliance “has no plans to send troops to Ukraine”. The French president had missed this option this Monday evening, declaring that “nothing should be ruled out” to prevent a Russian victory over Ukraine, including sending troops to the invaded country, although he did not want to make it clear , what position he takes in this country due to “strategic ambiguities”.
“There will be no ground troops from European countries or NATO,” concluded Chancellor Olaf Scholz. “We are not thinking about it,” said Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, using similar words to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk earlier this morning. His Czech counterpart Petr Fiala appeared with the Polish leader and gave a similar speech. The four leaders' refusal has its symbolism. Although Germany has been reluctant from the start to take steps that could be interpreted as direct confrontation with Russia, Germany is the EU partner that has sent the most weapons to Ukraine. Due to Russian aggression, Sweden abandoned its neutrality of the last two centuries and joined the Atlantic Alliance. Since the beginning of the invasion, Poland and the Czech Republic have been the most belligerent countries towards Moscow, along with the three Baltic republics.
Yesterday in Paris we agreed that everything must do more for Ukraine. It needs weapons, ammunition and air defense. We are working on that. One thing is clear: There will be no ground troops from European states or NATO. That applies.
— Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (@Federal Chancellor) February 27, 2024
They were all, in theory, in favor of providing more support to Ukraine, which is currently experiencing one of its worst moments after the counteroffensive launched last summer stalled. “I feel that we should further develop the methods of cooperation that we began to implement after the start of the invasion,” asked the Czech Fiala, who recently proposed increasing deliveries of projectiles to Kiev. This also applies to the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, who wrote a letter last week accusing the capitals of not sending enough ammunition. “Delays in the delivery of ammunition are costing lives and weakening Ukraine’s defense capability.”
In any case, there is greater agreement on the proposal to increase support for Kiev than among the troops, as Scholz emphasized: “In Paris we agree that we all have to do more for Ukraine.” They need weapons, ammunition and air defense . We are working on that. One thing is clear: there will be no ground troops from European states or NATO.”
In Brussels, where the headquarters of NATO and the EU foreign service are located, the French president's intervention caused surprise. Community sources indicate that Macron had not told anyone what he would say. Various other diplomatic sources in the Union capital are very skeptical about the option presented in Paris.
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The French president himself acknowledged that “there is no consensus on sending ground troops in an official, accepted and decisive manner”, although this was obviously put on the table, as Macron finally explained at the end of the summit convened this Monday in the French capital to send the message to Moscow that Europe will not allow itself to be won in this war. The meeting was attended by 27 EU heads of state and government and ministers, as well as NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, as well as representatives from the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States. The meeting also took place at a time when doubts and criticism of the West for its inadequate support for Ukraine are high.
Sending troops to Kiev would, of course, mean crossing a red line that seems unimaginable at this moment. Others see no route at all. Since Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine, allies and the EU have taken steps that seemed impossible just a day before. For example, just days after February 24, 2022, the day the Russian offensive began, the Union agreed to finance the purchase of lethal war materials to send to the attacked country.
Then it was the turn of the members of the Atlantic Alliance, who initially resisted sending tanks and then did so. However, sending troops presents a hurdle that many are unwilling to overcome. One of them is Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who noted on Monday, before the meeting even began, that sending troops was on the agenda, giving him “goosebumps.”
Macron, for his part, did not want to reveal his country's position and hid behind “strategic ambiguity”. Regarding this expression, International Institute for Strategic Studies analyst François Heisbourg points out: “Confusion in the Western ranks is not the same as managing strategic ambiguity.” More critical is analyst Ulrich Speck, who said: “It has to “This will involve large-scale military support for Ukraine, support that France has not provided in the last two years.”
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