President Macron hints at sending Western troops to Ukraine, says Europe will do so

Paris
CNN
—

French President Emmanuel Macron has publicly discussed the possibility of sending European troops to Ukraine to help Kiev win the war against Russia, a move that would see Europe engage in the largest ground war since World War II. There is a possibility of intrusion.

At a press conference after hosting a summit to discuss Ukraine on Monday, President Macron said he and the other 21 European leaders present had not agreed on sending troops, but the prospect was openly discussed. he told reporters.

“Nothing should be ruled out,” he said. “We will do everything we can to prevent Russia from winning this war.”

As part of that effort, President Macron announced the creation of a new coalition to supply medium-range and long-range missiles to Ukraine.

“We are at a critical moment when we need to take the lead in this conflict,” President Macron said.

With $60 billion worth of U.S. funding for Ukraine being withheld by Republicans in Congress, the burden of helping arm the country as it tries to fend off a resurgent Russian military is shifting to Europe.

Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines say they are already running low on ammunition and are suffering casualties on the battlefield. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told CNN in a recent interview that “millions” of people could die if the US fails to provide his country with more aid.

But sending in Western troops would be a drastic step, unthinkable when the Kremlin launched a full-scale invasion two years ago.

But Macron noted that Western democracies are gradually increasing their support, taking support to levels unimaginable at the beginning of the war. He highlighted the example of Germany, which provided Kiev with helmets and sleeping bags early in the conflict, and said further steps now need to be taken to supply the country with missiles and tanks.

“The people who said ‘no’ today are the same people who said no to airplanes, long-range missiles, and trucks. They said that two years ago,” he said. said. “We have to be humble and realize that we have always been six to eight months behind.”