In Ukraine there is the hypothesis of NATO soldiers in

In Ukraine there is the hypothesis of NATO soldiers in Kiev

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT
PARIS – At the special summit on Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron struck a dramatic tone and tried to convey two messages. To Russia: We are not tired, you will not win. To the Europeans: We are all threatened, we are all at risk of being attacked by Moscow, it is time for a qualitative leap in aid to Kiev and to ourselves.

“All or almost all of the countries represented at this table have said this. (…) The collective analysis is that in a few years we will have to prepare for Russia to attack the same countries. Today, everyone's security is at stake.” The 28 countries represented at the table that could soon be attacked by Russia are primarily those of the European Union – in addition to France, Chancellor Scholz's Germany and Spain by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Italy, represented by Vice Minister Edmondo Cirielli – plus the USA and Canada.

The Elysée Palace hastily organized the extraordinary summit because after two years of Russian bombings, fighting on the ground and meetings in support of Ukraine, Russia is in an advantageous position. So we have to send more weapons, actually keep the promises we've been making for months and also invent something new. This brings us to the big taboo that actually no longer exists, namely sending European soldiers to Ukraine.

During a preparatory briefing on Sunday, an Elysée source did not want to rule out this possibility in principle, but reiterated the other basic principle: “Nobody wants to go to war against Russia.” Before arriving in Paris yesterday, Chancellor Olaf Scholz felt the need to assure that “there will be no German soldiers on Ukrainian soil.” This shows that others may also be thinking about it and that the topic is definitely up for discussion.

The confirmation comes from Slovakia's Prime Minister, the populist Robert Fico, who is attending the summit with similar pro-Russian positions as the absent Hungarian Viktor Orbán.

“Many member states of NATO and the European Union are thinking about sending their soldiers to the territory of Ukraine on a bilateral basis,” Fico said before the summit began, “and I can’t even imagine that.” I know what they are will do, but this is confidential information. This decision will lead to a huge escalation of tensions, it is a combat operation, they just want the massacre to continue.”

Chancellor Scholz, irritated by the accusation of not doing enough and perhaps also by the French desire to do more, adds that he will not even send the Taurus long-range missile systems that have been expected for months. The UK and France will supply Ukraine with their Storm Shadows and Scalps, but “the Taurus is a very powerful weapon and what the British and French are doing for target control cannot be done in Germany.” We will not settle on one Go to war with Russia.”

Meanwhile, Sweden is finally joining NATO, ending 200 years of neutrality after Hungarian MPs gave the green light, and Ukrainian President Zelensky is not ruling out the possibility that France will supply Mirage fighters to Ukraine in addition to Scalp missiles.