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Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks after signing bilateral documents with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana, Kazakhstan, November 9, 2023.
Tular Kazhangapov | Reuters
France’s suggestion that Ukraine’s ally could send ground forces to Ukraine has sparked resentment and anger within Russia, with officials warning it could lead to a direct conflict between Russia and the NATO member. It warns that this is a possibility.
French President Emmanuel Macron raised eyebrows on Monday when he suggested that European leaders and Western officials who met in Paris on Monday had discussed the possibility of sending ground troops to Ukraine.
“Today there is no official, open and supported agreement to send troops to the ground. But in terms of power relations, nothing should be ruled out. Russia will win this war,” Macron said. We will do everything necessary to ensure that there is no such thing,” Macron said. at a press conference Monday night.
Russia quickly seized on the remarks, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov telling reporters on Tuesday that if European NATO members send troops to fight in Ukraine, a conflict between Russia and NATO could be avoided. He said he would not be able to do it.
In response to a question about the possibility of a direct conflict between Russia and the Western military alliance, he said, “In this case, we need to talk not about probability, but about necessity, and that is how we assess,” TASS reported. said. His army crossed the border.
Peskov added that NATO countries “need to evaluate” the consequences of such actions and “ask whether this corresponds to their interests and, most importantly, the interests of their own people.” .
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov agreed, advising countries considering sending troops to Ukraine to “use their heads”, TASS added.
“It seems to me that a person who not only expresses such a thought, but also acknowledges it in his head, should use that head for more rational thinking. [as it’s] It is safer for Europe,” Lavrov said at a press conference on Tuesday.
European allies quickly downplayed the remarks, with Germany hastily denying on Tuesday that it had any plans to “station German troops on Ukrainian soil.” Britain and Spain also publicly rejected the idea, which would have put NATO countries’ militaries in direct conflict with their longtime nemesis, nuclear-armed Russia.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz insisted there was no agreement between European leaders and British, Canadian and US officials who met in Paris on Monday to deploy ground forces.
“Once again, during very good discussions, we have confirmed that what was agreed from the beginning between us and each other will also apply in the future, namely ground forces and soldiers sent from European countries to Ukrainian soil. It was discussed that there are no countries or NATO countries,” Scholz said on the sidelines of the event.
According to Reuters, German Deputy Prime Minister Robert Habeck also gave “advice” to France, saying it would be more beneficial for the country to send weapons and tanks to Ukraine. He also stated that “there are no German soldiers on the territory of Ukraine.”
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed and held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the Elysée Palace in Paris, France, on February 8, 2023.
Sarah Maysonier | Reuters
A spokesman for British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said there were no plans to send “significant” troops into Ukraine apart from the small number of personnel already in the country to support Ukrainian forces.
Madrid has also publicly refuted the idea, with government spokesperson Pilar Alegría saying Spain does not agree to France’s proposal to send European ground forces to Ukraine. He added that Spain wanted to limit its aid to sending more weapons and other supplies to Kiev.
“Unity has been and remains the most effective weapon with which Europe must confront.” [Russian President Vladimir] It’s an attack on President Putin,” Alegría said, according to comments translated by Reuters.
Late Tuesday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told The Associated Press that NATO has no plans to send combat troops to Ukraine.
Stoltenberg said: “NATO allies are providing unprecedented support to Ukraine. We have been providing support since 2014 and have stepped up further after the full-scale invasion. There are no plans to send NATO combat forces.”
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