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French President Emmanuel Macron faced an anxious reaction from European allies and a warning from the Kremlin on Tuesday as he did not rule out sending Western ground forces to Ukraine to fight Russia’s invasion.
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Macron said after Monday’s European summit that Russia must do “everything necessary” to ensure Russia’s defeat, including sending in troops.
The Kremlin has said that sending NATO and Russian troops to the conflict would break a major taboo that Western countries have been reluctant to challenge, and that a confrontation between NATO and Russia would be “avoidable.” “I can’t do it,” he warned.
Macron hosted the conference just over two years after Russia invaded Ukraine, seeking to rally greater support for Kiev as it faces escalating battlefield challenges and dwindling military supplies.
He painted a grim picture of Russia under President Vladimir Putin, claiming there had been a “change in attitude” in recent months that had hardened attitudes both at home and in Ukraine.
Macron said there was “no agreement” on sending Western ground forces to Ukraine, but added: “Nothing should be ruled out. We will do everything possible to ensure that Russia does not win this war.” added.
“We are not at war with Russia”
Macron declined to say more about France’s position, citing the need for “strategic ambiguity”, but said the issue was being mentioned as “one of the options”.
“I am convinced that the defeat of Russia is essential for the security and stability of Europe,” President Macron said.
Slovak Prime Minister Roberto Fico, who has been accused by critics of being too friendly with the Kremlin, said after the meeting that there were disagreements among European leaders on the issue.
“Some countries are ready to send their soldiers to Ukraine, others say they will never send them, and others, including Slovakia, say the proposal should be considered.” he said.
Ulf Kristersson, Prime Minister of Sweden, which plans to join NATO, poured cold water on the idea, saying it was “not being considered at all at the moment.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a text message on X: “Yesterday in Paris, everyone agreed that we must do more for Ukraine.” , we need air defense. We are working on it. It is clear: there is no basis for troops from European countries or NATO. ”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said if NATO forces appeared in Ukraine, “we need to talk about the necessity, not the possibility” of a conflict.
“This is never in the interests of these countries. They should realize this,” he added.
One NATO official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stressed that despite the alliance’s “unprecedented military support,” there are “no plans to deploy NATO combat forces on the ground in Ukraine.”
The Italian government said its aid to Ukraine did not include sending troops.
“We have to be very careful when we talk about sending troops, because we don’t want people to think we’re at war with Russia,” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said.
“We are not at war with Russia,” he said.
But Britain reacted more cautiously, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s spokesman saying there were no plans for a “large-scale” military deployment to Ukraine.
“Engagement threshold”
The Western forces that will ultimately be sent to Ukraine will not have the authority to fight Russian troops, but they will be able to maintain priorities outlined by Macron at a press conference, including clearing landmines, ensuring the safety of neighboring countries such as Moldova, and thwarting cyber attacks. It is understood that efforts will be made.
“We’re not talking about soldiers on the front lines in combat, we’re talking about specific operations far from the front lines,” said Rim Momtaz, a consulting fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). .
But in parliament, Mr Macron was criticized by far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who accused him of taking a “further step in his belligerent stance and creating an existential crisis for 70 million French people”.
French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourne told lawmakers that new actions to support Ukraine, such as demining and weapons production, could require a military presence on Ukrainian territory, but that this would mean “no hostilities He said that it does not exceed the “standards”.
The U.S. comes as a new aid package struggles to win Congressional approval and as Donald Trump, who has voiced opposition to further aid to Kiev, looks to return to office in this year’s election. There are growing doubts about the feasibility of long-term assistance to Ukraine.
“At stake is our future, the future of Europe. We must have the possibility of doing without (the United States), not out of defiance, pessimism or fear,” Macron said. Because it’s up to us.”
(AFP)
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