French President Emmanuel Macron has taken a cautious but open stance on the possibility of deploying French troops to Ukraine, a move contingent upon a major Russian military breakthrough and a formal request from Kyiv.
Macron’s comments have stirred debates within NATO and European circles, exposing differing perspectives on direct troop involvement in the Ukraine conflict. While some allies have unequivocally dismissed the idea of boots on the ground, Macron’s assertion underscores the gravity of the situation and the potential for policy shifts in response to escalating aggression from Moscow.
In an interview with The Economist, Macron stated, “If the Russians were to break through the front lines, if there were a Ukrainian request—which is not the case today—we would legitimately have to ask ourselves this question.” This circumspect approach recognizes the fluid nature of warfare, as well as the strategic implications of Russia’s actions in Ukraine and beyond.
He underscored the strategic implications of Russia’s potential victory, articulating a firm belief that “If Russia wins in Ukraine, there will be no security in Europe.”
The French President has likened the situation to France’s deployment of troops in the Sahel to combat terrorism, prompted by the requests of sovereign states. Drawing from this precedent, he argued that preemptively ruling out military options could undermine lessons learned from the past two years of conflict.
In contrast, other NATO leaders, such as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, have taken a more definitive stance, with Scholz stating, “There will be no ground troops, no soldiers on Ukrainian soil sent there by European countries or NATO states.” Similarly, the U.S. President Joe Biden has committed to keeping American forces out of the conflict, emphasizing that there are “no American soldiers at war in Ukraine.”
Despite these contrasting positions, Macron has emphasized that his perspective is a strategic wake-up call for his counterparts. He views Russia as a “power of regional destabilisation” and stresses the importance of not allowing Moscow to achieve its objectives in Ukraine, which he believes would imperil the security of several European nations.
Relevant articles:
– Macron doesn’t rule out sending troops to Ukraine if Russians break through line of contact, pravda.com.ua, 05/02/2024
– NATO Member Outlines Two Conditions for Deploying Troops to Ukraine, Newsweek, 05/02/2024
– Macron says he would consider sending troops to Ukraine in case of Russian breakthrough, Ukrainian request, Kyiv Independent, 05/02/2024
– Ukraine-Russia war latest: Macron explains at what point he’d send troops to Ukraine; children injured in guided bomb attack, Sky News, 05/02/2024
– “I’m Not Ruling Anything Out” – Macron Says Troops for Ukraine Possible if Russia Breaks Front Lines, Kyiv Post, 05/02/2024