French President Emmanuel Macron stands up to Russia in a bold attempt to repair his dwindling image. With a major u-turn by suggesting that the EU will send Western troops to fight in Ukraine, causing confusion amongst EU leaders who dismissed the remarks.
The President caused a stir in the European Council and French diplomats immediately backtracked on the Presidents comments.
Hosting a conference of European leaders on Monday night, the French leader refused to rule out the dispatch of Western troops to Ukraine as Russia’s invasion stretches into its third year and Kyiv’s military campaign appears to be faltering.
The prime ministers of Italy and Canada signed security deals with Ukraine on Saturday as Western leaders rallied around a war-weary Kyiv on the second anniversary of Russia’s military invasion, with no end in sight to the fighting.
Macron stands up to Russia Causing a stir with EU members
“We will do whatever it takes to ensure that Russia cannot win this war,”
Macron added.
A European military source, who asked not to be named, said that European allies had been studying the plan for several weeks and the United States supported the idea.
While Macron did not provide any details, the French foreign ministry said the idea did not foresee French troops directly fighting against Russian forces in Ukraine.
Russia warns of NATO involvement causing confusion with NATO leaders
Speaking to reporters, Lithuanian Defence Minister Arvydas Anusauskas played down Macron’s comments as he said: “We are talking about training missions, training components. Training.”
When pressed whether it would be limited to instructors only, the minister said that he could not reveal the details because “this is still being discussed between the countries”.
The Kremlin warned of the “inevitability” of confrontation between NATO and Russia if troops from the alliance were deployed in the conflict, which would break a major taboo the West has so far been reluctant to challenge.
The Italian government said support for Ukraine did not include sending troops.
“When we talk about sending troops, we must be very cautious because we must not make people think we are at war with Russia,” said Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.
“We are not at war with Russia,” he said.
Backtrack – France’s foreign minister sought to clarify comments made by President Emmanuel Macron
French diplomats immediately backtracked on the Presidents comments and said Macron’s idea was to stoke debate on the issue, but there were no concrete plans in that direction.
Leading to the France’s foreign minister sought to clarify comments made by President Emmanuel Macron that Paris could send troops to Ukraine for specific needs, but not to fight in the war against Russia.
“We must consider new actions to support Ukraine. These must respond to very specific needs, I am thinking in particular of mine clearance, cyberdefence, the production of weapons on site, on Ukrainian territory,”
Stephane Sejourne French Foreign Minister
“Some of its actions could require a presence on Ukrainian territory, without crossing the threshold of fighting. Nothing should be ruled out. This was and still is the position today of the president of the Republic.”