French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday said that sending Western troops on the ground in Ukraine is not “ruled out” after the issue was debated at a gathering of European leaders in Paris, as Russia’s full-scale invasion grinds into a third year.
The French leader said that “we will do everything needed so Russia cannot win the war” after the meeting of more than 20 European heads of state and government, and other Western officials.
“There’s no consensus today to send in an official, endorsed manner troops on the ground, but in terms of dynamics, nothing can be ruled out,” Macron said at a news conference at the Elysee Palace.
Photo: EPA-EFE
Macron declined to provide details about which nations were considering sending troops, saying he prefers to maintain some “strategic ambiguity.”
The meeting included German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Polish President Andrzej Duda, as well as leaders from Baltic nations. The US was represented by US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O’Brien, and the UK by British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Cameron.
Duda said the most heated discussion was about whether to send troops to Ukraine and “there was no agreement on the matter. Opinions differ here, but there are no such decisions.”
The Polish president said he hopes that “in the nearest future, we will jointly be able to prepare substantial shipments of ammunition to Ukraine. This is most important now. This is something that Ukraine really needs.”
Macron earlier on Monday called on European leaders to ensure the continent’s “collective security” by providing unwavering support to Ukraine in the face of tougher Russian offensives on the battlefield.
“In recent months, particularly, we have seen Russia getting tougher,” Macron said.
Macron cited the need to solidify security to head off any Russian attacks on additional nations. Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia, as well as much larger Poland, have been considered among possible targets of Russian expansionism. All four nations are staunch supporters of Ukraine.
Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna earlier this month said that NATO has about three or four years to strengthen its defenses.
In a speech via videoconference, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called on the leaders gathered in Paris to “ensure that Putin cannot destroy our achievements and cannot expand his aggression to other nations.”
Several European nations, including France, expressed their support for an initiative launched by the Czech Republic to buy ammunition and shells outside the EU, participants to the meeting said.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said his nation had decided to provide more than 100 million euros (US$109 million) for that purpose.
In addition, a new coalition is to be launched to further “mobilize” nations with capabilities to deliver medium and long-range missiles, Macron said, as France announced last month the delivery of 40 additional long-range Scalp cruise missiles.
European nations are worried that the US would dial back support as aid for Kyiv is teetering in the US Congress. They also have concerns that former US president Donald Trump might return to the White House and change the course of US policy on the continent.
The Paris conference came after France, Germany and the UK signed 10-year bilateral agreements with Ukraine to send a strong signal of long-term backing as Kyiv works to shore up Western support.
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