French President Emmanuel Macron has discussed the possibility of European troops to Ukraine to aid win the war against Moscow.
Though there is a very little possibility of western democracies putting their foots on the actual grounds in Ukraine, Macron’s comment prompted a hawkish reply from Russia and sent European leaders scrambling to backtrack.
An official from NATO said that the alliance had “no plans” to deploy combat troops in Ukraine.
Olaf Scholz the German Chancellor said during the meeting in Paris that while it was a good topic for a debate and we had a fruitful discussion on this, the members were “unanimous” in their opinion against deploying troops.
Macron during his talk with reporters said that while he and other 21 leaders present did not agree on send the troops on the battle field and the prospect was discussed openly.
“Nothing should be ruled out,” Macron said. “We will do anything we can to prevent Russia from winning this war.
However, a no. of European representatives came out Tuesday contrary to such a plan. Together with some more enthusiastic Ukraine supporters, like United Kingdom, Poland, Spain and Italy, as well as administrators from Hungary and Slovakia.
“What was agreed among ourselves and with each other from the very beginning also applies to the future, namely that there will be no ground troops, no soldiers on Ukrainian soil sent there by European nations or NATO members,” said the German Chancellor.
Macron also mentioned that we are at a critical moment in this conflict that requires us to take the initiative and move forward.
Around $60 billion worth of American funding for Ukraine which is at a hold by Republicans in the US congress, and the burden is now shifted to Europe to help arm Ukraine in its defense against Russia.
Ukrainian soldiers on the frontline are reporting that they are already in a scare of ammunition, which is causing them loss of life in the battlefield. President Zelensky in his recent interview told that “millions” could die if US fails to supply his country with more aid.
The EU jointly has already dedicated to more than $150 billion in aid to Kyiv, but sending in armed forces would be more radical step.
Macron pointed that the west has increasing slowing its support to level unthinkable when the war began. He shed light on Germany, which offered head protectors and sleeping bags to Kyiv at the outset of the conflict and now saying there is a lot more to be done in the Kyiv’s aid.
“The individuals that said ‘never ever’ these days were the same ones who said never ever planes, never ever long-range missiles, never ever trucks. They said all that two years ago,” he said. “We have to be humble and realize that we (have) always been six to eight months late.”
Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson said that such a deployment in Ukraine would put the west in conflict with Russia.
Foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said in 2023 that the US, UK and their allies are “waging war” against Russia.
