French Ministry of Defense rules out deployment of land troops to Ukraine

BFM TV reported the information.

"Between supplying arms, as we know it today, and alliance, meaning direct war with Russia, have we exhausted all options?" stated the minister.

He also mentioned several courses of action, including schemes for military presence for demining and training Ukrainian soldiers on Ukrainian soil.

"We are no longer in the same situation as two years ago," emphasized the minister, citing the results of the Ukrainian counteroffensive, the death of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, and the threats posed by Russia to all European countries."

Background

On February 26, about 20 European leaders met in Paris to discuss the threats posed by Russian President Vladimir Putin. They were addressed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

After the conference, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that in the future, the deployment of Western ground troops to fight Russian aggression should not be ruled out.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico confirmed that some NATO and EU member states are allegedly discussing the possibility of sending their troops to Ukraine after signing bilateral agreements with Kyiv.

Stoltenberg and NATO leaders clarified that no collective decision has been made to send troops to Ukraine, while Russia labeled the suggestion as a declaration of war.

On February 29, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that Western leaders should not rule out the possibility of sending ground troops to Ukraine.

On March 4, Macron said he will not send troops to Ukraine in the near future, but opens a debate on the matter.