Espreso. Global

"Macron is right": Volker says deployment of Western troops to Ukraine should not be ruled out

9 April, 2024 Tuesday
15:45

Former State Department representative to Ukraine Kurt Volker is convinced that the possibility of sending ground troops into the combat zone should not be ruled out

client/title.list_title

He said this in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.

"(French President Emmanuel - ed.) Macron is absolutely right. We should not take things off the table and announce that we're taking things off the table," the diplomat said.

In his opinion, the categorical refusal of some countries to participate in the war was a signal to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin of indecision and lack of commitment on the part of the West.

"All Macron was saying is we shouldn't rule anything out, we shouldn't rule out ground troops. And I completely agree, we should not rule it out. That doesn't mean we should do it now either. That's not what he's saying. Don't take it off the table," Volker emphasized.

He is also convinced that foreign troops could participate in Ukraine's air defense.

"We provide the weapons and ammunition for Ukraine's air defenses, but the reality is that NATO countries are bordering Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, Romania, in Hungary, and we've had already instances of missiles going over Polish airspace. And these missiles and drones are aimed at civilians. So, it is perfectly reasonable for NATO countries to begin thinking about helping to take down these missiles and rockets and drones that are attacking civilians as a humanitarian gesture and as an extension of NATO's air defenses because they are actually a risk to NATO as well," Volker said.

"I would think it would be smart to have an air defense dome over everything from Mykolaiv to Romania. That would be very good for the security of transportation, very good for the security of civilians, for the security of shipping. If you had a small contingent of troops, maybe, French that were air defense forces and would be able to protect the sky – I don't see anything wrong with that," he added.

  • On February 26, French President Emmanuel Macron said that in the future, the deployment of Western ground troops to combat Russian aggression should not be ruled out.
  • On February 29, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that Western leaders should not rule out the possibility of sending NATO troops to Ukraine.
  • Czech President Petr Pavel said that support for Ukraine by NATO troops directly on its territory would not violate any international norms.
  • On March 8, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that his country does not want to be a party to the war, so it will not deploy troops in Ukraine.
Tags:
Read also:
  • News
2024, Wednesday
11 December
21:35
Updated
Hungary's Orban urges Ukraine, Russia to agree on Christmas ceasefire: Kyiv reacts
21:18
Exclusive
Russian army to keep building up efforts in Ukraine’s Orikhiv sector
20:59
OPINION
Ukraine has started building new world order
20:40
Exclusive
What weapons has Ukraine's army used to target two facilities in Russia? Expert suggests
20:22
Ukraine introduces new 'kamikaze' drones resistant to Russian electronic warfare
20:04
U.S. intel warns Kyiv of Russia's possible Oreshnik strike in coming days
19:50
European Union agrees on 15th sanctions package against Russia
19:35
Exclusive
Duda's position is quite weak, he can hardly do anything for Ukraine - Polish journalist Sierant
19:17
140 clashes occur at front on Dec. 11: Ukrainian troops repell 19 Russian attacks in Kurakhove sector
18:56
Arms trade loopholes: how Russia still gets Western weapons amid sanctions
18:38
OPINION
What has Russia lost with fall of Assad regime in Syria?
18:19
Ukrainian army pushes back Russian troops from Kostiantynopolske, Donetsk region
18:02
Germany leads Europe with €37 billion in aid to Ukraine since Russian invasion
17:43
Poland's Tusk, Ukraine's Zelenskyy plan high-stakes visits in early 2025
17:25
Russian army shells border area of Ukraine's Sumy region, killing couple
17:07
OPINION
Trump's plan: speed isn’t the key to success
16:45
Russia launches massive hybrid offensive against Europe — Ukraine’s FM
16:21
November and December set records for Russian losses in Ukraine — Zelenskyy
16:09
Updated
Hungarian PM discusses Ukraine with Putin after meeting Trump, Kremlin confirms
16:00
Exclusive
December 4-11 live war map: Russia sets deadly traps for Ukrainian forces in Kurakhove, Velyka Novosilka sectors
15:54
Trump must take firm stand on Russia to avoid issues with China — top EU diplomat
15:35
Russian-run "court" in Donetsk sentences 9 Mariupol defenders
15:16
Russia uses new technologies to influence European elections — top EU diplomat
14:58
Exclusive
Trump lacks ideas on how to end Russia's war in Ukraine, says journalist Portnykov
14:57
OPINION
Ukraine’s potential elections could serve as “second round” for pro-Russian candidate
14:35
Norway to continue military training for Ukrainian National Guards in 2025
14:15
China cuts goods supplies to Russia for the first time in 4 months amid payment issues
13:55
Ukraine’s forces strike oil depot in Russia's Bryansk, Taganrog reports missile attack
13:33
Zelenskyy presses security guarantees, Trump calls for ceasefire in Paris talks on Ukraine war
12:59
Bulgarian MPs push to investigate Russian influence after Romanian election scandal
12:37
OPINION
Trump and Orbán discuss strategies to end Russian-Ukrainian war
12:15
Ukraine calls for ICC investigation into POW killings in Olenivka
11:50
U.S. condemns Russian drone attack on IAEA vehicle
11:38
Review
Will Russia secure unimpeded withdrawal of its troops from Syria? Serhiy Zgurets’ column
11:16
Canada approves $587 million in military aid for Ukraine
10:56
How Russian-backed TikTok influencers interfered in Romania's elections
10:33
Putin keeps Syrian mercenaries in Ukraine, leaving Assad short-handed
10:15
Taiwan warns of 'major threat' as China deploys largest fleet since 1996
09:55
Ukraine confirms execution of 109 POWs by Russia in 2024 — Ombudsman
09:37
Russia loses 1,400 soldiers, 20 armored vehicles, 2 tanks in one day of war in Ukraine
More news