French President Emmanuel Macron He was left alone with his hypothetical deployment of European troops to Ukraine, If necessary. Only 20 percent of French people agree with this option and 80 percent are against it. But their biggest opponents are their European counterparts such as the Germans and the British, who have the most advanced military forces but currently lack ammunition, logistics and budget.
Russia has warned of the “inevitability” of direct war with NATOafter Emmanuel Macron said sending troops to fight in Ukraine “cannot be ruled out.”
The French president made these comments on Monday afternoon at a meeting of 20 European heads of state and high-ranking politicians in Paris. Asked whether sending Western troops to Ukraine was an option, Macron said the matter had been discussed at the conference.
“Today there is no consensus about officially sending troops into the field. But nothing can be ruled out in terms of options,” he said.
Moscow's answer
This triggered a quick reaction from Moscow, with President Putin's spokesman warning against such a measure would lead to a significant escalation of the conflict.
“The very discussion about the possibility of sending certain contingents from NATO countries to Ukraine is a very important new element,” said Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Vladimir Putin. “In this case we would have to talk not about the probability but about the inevitability of a direct conflict.”
Putin has criticized this before “Attack” of Ukrainian supporters even as they help Kiev defend itself against the Russian invasion.
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky. AFP photoIn France, political leaders were astonished. “France’s foreign policy consists of uncontrolled gaffes and imaginative announcements” said Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the former left-wing presidential candidate. On Wednesday morning on TF1, he declared himself “dismayed” by Emmanuel Macron’s comments. The head of state assured on Monday afternoon that “the sending of Western troops to Ukraine is not ruled out.”
The leader of France Insoumise believes that “that would make us belligerents.” For him, it is “not about waging war,” especially since “all allies have declared that they do not want to take part in this initiative.” But he warns against “an escalation in which no one knows the outcome.”
The rejection of Biden and the Europeans
But Macron's comments They were sharply rejected by the Western alliesincluding the United States, Britain and several of the participants at the Elysée Palace meeting, apparently undermining the conference's intended purpose of offering a sign of European unity.
Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, directly and emphatically rejected any suggestion that a European or NATO country would send ground troops to Ukraine.
Robert Habeck, the German Vice Chancellor, responded even more scathingly Macron should try to send more weapons. German arms deliveries to Ukraine far exceed those of France, even though their respective defense budgets are similar.
“I am pleased that France is thinking about how it can increase its support for Ukraine. But if I could give him some advice: supply more weapons,” said Habeck. There is a shortage of ammunition in war and long-range weapons.
Scholz's position was shared by his colleagues Poland, Italy, Czech Republic and Hungary, and Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of NATO.
The White House said President Biden has “made clear that the United States will not send troops to fight in Ukraine.” A spokesman for British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Apart from the small number of personnel we have in the country supporting Ukrainian forces, “We have no plans for a large-scale operation.”
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson of Sweden, which will become NATO's newest member in a few days, also rejected the idea, saying: “That's not possible at all at the moment.”
However, there has been preliminary support from Lithuania, which is considering sending troops to train Ukrainian soldiers. Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said: “The initiative behind yesterday’s Paris meeting is worth considering.”
French help
Until now, France has provided just over 500 million euros in bilateral support to Ukraine. Although it has now promised €3 billion under a security pact signed this month. This is offset by the US aid commitment of around 75 billion US dollars and at least 25 billion euros in German commitments and deliveries.
The French president also called on European leaders to take more responsibility for their own defense. Previously he called for a European army, amid fears that Washington could reduce its participation in NATO and cut off aid to Ukraine if Donald Trump wins a second term as president in November.
The President of France, Emmanuel Macron. Portal photoMacron's vision is at odds with the positions of more Atlantic leaders such as the British chancellor, Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton, Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, and Scholz of Germany.
The Elysée Palace was surprised by the reaction of its allies. In an apparent attempt to calm tensions, Stéphane Séjourné, Macron's foreign minister, said Western troops could be sent to Ukraine. “without entering the battle at the front”. Séjourné said that “foreign troops could undertake tasks such as demining and cyber operations” “without crossing the threshold of belligerence.”
Ukraine demands more weapons
Oleksiy Danilov, head of Ukraine's National Security Council, said his people were “ready to fight for our independence themselves.” Just give us the weapons to do it.”
Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to President Zelensky, welcomed Macron's proposal. He said the French president “now shows a deep understanding of the risks that the war in Ukraine poses for Europe.”
The widespread refutation of Macron's comments shows the narrow path Ukraine's allies are taking as they try to support the war effort while avoiding escalation. which would lead to direct conflict with Russia.
A day earlier, the conference agreed to form a “coalition” of countries that would discuss supplying long-range missiles and bombs to Ukraine.
Macron also dropped France's opposition to buying emergency artillery supplies for Ukraine from outside the EU and said he would support a plan by the Czech president. Buy 800,000 rounds of ammunition.
Marine Le Pen, the right-wing candidate from the Rassemblement Nationale who is polled to win France's next presidential election in 2027, accused Macron of “making himself the leader of the war.”
The French president's positions on Ukraine changed radically during the two years of war. Shortly before the Russian invasion, he flew to Moscow for talks with Putin and then confidently declared that he had avoided war. A statement that made him ridiculous. Photos of him sitting at the other end of a long table in the Kremlin from Putin They also made him the butt of jokes.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Tuesday, February 27, his arrival in Saudi Arabia to discuss that country's mediation. in the exchange of prisoners of war between Kiev and Moscow.
“I arrived in Saudi Arabia” to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Zelensky said in X. The negotiations will focus on the “peace formula” proposed by Kiev to end the Russian invasion and on the “return of prisoners of war” focus on Ukrainian civilians detained by Moscow, to which Riyadh has “already contributed,” he added.
In September 2022, Riyadh played an unexpected role as a mediator, leading to ten foreign prisoners of war, including two Americans and five Britons, being transferred to Saudi Arabia. who fought on the Ukrainian side. Their transfer and release came as part of one of the largest exchanges between Kiev and Moscow since the Russian invasion began two years ago. More than 200 Ukrainian prisoners were later released, including the defense chiefs of the city of Mariupol, a symbol of Ukrainian resistance.
Zelensky continued his journey through the Balkan countries today to seek help.