French President Macron Doesn’t Rule Out Sending Western Troops to Ukraine
Paris Ready to Support Ukraine’s Defense Efforts
French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that sending western troops to fight in Ukraine “could not be ruled out” as part of the effort to ensure Europe’s collective security. Macron expressed his country’s commitment to assisting Ukraine during a meeting of 25 European leaders in Paris.
New Measures to Counterbalance Russia
Macron emphasized the necessity of Russia’s defeat and stated that a consensus has been reached to establish a coalition of countries to support Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression. Among the potential measures discussed, long-range missiles and bombs to be provided to Ukraine were mentioned.
Western Troop Deployment to Ukraine Remains Uncertain
While there is no consensus for sending western troops to Ukraine, Macron clarified that no option should be ruled out. The Kremlin has warned that a conflict with Russia would be inevitable if western troops entered Ukraine. However, European leaders remain concerned about Russia’s broader threat, extending beyond Ukraine, and are committed to defending eastern European NATO member states.
Changing Priorities: France’s Artillery Support
As events on the battlefield reshape policies, Macron announced a significant policy shift by dropping France’s long-standing opposition to purchasing emergency artillery supplies for Ukraine from non-EU countries. The revised approach aims to address limitations in the availability of western supplies and secure additional finances by utilizing shared EU funds.
Czech Republic Leading the Artillery Shells Initiative
The Czech Republic has taken the lead in identifying approximately 800,000 artillery shells that could be urgently purchased from non-EU countries and delivered to Ukraine. Seeking up to $1.5 billion in funding, the Czech Republic has approached Brussels for potential contributions from unspent EU funds, but faced resistance due to France’s previous objections.
Multilateral Efforts and Contributions
Despite these challenges, several countries, including the Netherlands, have shown interest in contributing to the initiative. The Netherlands has pledged to provide €100 million, and more nations are expected to follow suit. The objective of the initiative is to meet Ukraine’s pressing artillery needs as quickly as possible.
Additional reporting by Richard Milne and Max Seddon
