France does not rule out sending troops to Ukraine – 2024-03-03 13:02:09

European leaders meeting at Elysium agreed this Monday to move towards “a war economy” to help Ukraine to confront the Russian invasion, announced the French president, Emmanuel Macronwhich did not even exclude the sending of troops if necessary to achieve that objective.

«The defeat of Russia is essential for the security and stability of Europe»Macron said in a press conference after the end of the meeting of more than twenty European heads of state and government.

Macron noted that “there is no consensus today” to send ground troops but warned that nothing can be excluded in the future, and gave as an example that two years ago no one was thinking about sending fighter jets to Ukraine.

The French president considered that in the face of the increase in Russian aggressiveness, both on Ukrainian soil and against the rest of the European allies, “one cannot wait” to give a response and assumed a “measured ambiguity” regarding the sending of troops.

He was the Slovak prime minister, the populist Robert Ficowho put this measure on the table and although it did not receive majority support, it became the great novelty of the meeting, because as Macron summarized, “everything must be done so that Russia does not win this war.”

The French president pointed out that in the meeting they agreed on delving into two other measures, one on the delivery of medium and long-range missiles to Ukraine and another related to the common issuance of European Union debt to finance that war effort. similar to the one launched after the covid pandemic.

In the first case, the German chancellor, Olaf Scholzwas reluctant for his country to deliver Taurus missiles, capable of reaching 500 kilometers, to Kiev to avoid an escalation in the conflict, but did not oppose other countries, such as France o United Kingdomcontinue sending shorter-range Scalp missiles that they already deliver to Ukraine.

Macron: Russian aggression affects the entire continent

In the case of mutualized debt, proposed by EstoniaMacron highlighted that a country like Germanynot very favorable to these initiatives, supported it and justified it by saying that Russian aggression against Ukraine affects the security of the entire continent “without exception.”

Another point in which progress must be made is in making the sanctions imposed on Russia more efficient, which is why Macron assured that those countries and companies that help Russia to bypass the vetoes on its exports will be punished and that They sell military material or technology.

The Ukrainian president, Volodímir Zelenskicomplained in a recorded message that was played during the summit that only 30% of the howitzers promised by Europe have been delivered to its troops, something recognized by Macron, who promised to search for these weapons in those countries that have them and increase production, all with a clear schedule that can be met to “give visibility to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.”

The French president appealed for “a leap forward” in aid to Ukraine without waiting for the United States Congress to unfreeze the aid requested by the Biden administration, nor waiting for the result of the elections in that country next November.

«Currently Europe provides 30% of aid to Ukraine. This is a European war and I believe in a Europe of defense (…) We cannot bequeath the fate of this war, which determines our future, on the American voter. Let’s not wait for that result, let’s act now.”, he assured. EFE (I)