America and Germany unhappy with French comments about Western troop deployment to Ukraine
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
French President Emmanuel Macron's statements regarding the deployment of troops to Ukraine have sparked immediate criticism from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and infuriated American officials, who believe the action could provoke a clash with Moscow, Bloomberg reported, citing sources.
Some officials familiar with NATO discussions on Ukraine suggest that such statements from the French leader could have an effect opposite to what was desired.
Macron has, however, managed to "dispel the prolonged uncertainty regarding the positioning of red lines" among allies.
These words were not wise from the perspective of operational security, especially considering that several countries already unofficially have personnel in Ukraine, Bloomberg's sources said.
France's domestic politics also play a role, as Macron is putting Ukraine at the forefront of his re-election campaign, portraying his far-right opponent Marine Le Pen as an ally of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
Read also: Can Europe defend itself if US withdraws from NATO – expert interview
Some EU leaders still expect leadership from Macron, and many welcome his tough stance on Russia. At the same time, critics of the French president say that he talks tougher than he acts.
Bloomberg cited the example of Czechia, which leads the initiative to purchase 800,000 artillery shells for Ukraine. Despite Macron's statement last month in support of the initiative, France has yet to make a financial contribution.
France has significantly lagged behind its allies in terms of overall assistance since the beginning of the Russian full-scale war against Ukraine. It has promised Kyiv less than two billion euros in support, in contrast to the 22 billion euros pledged by Germany.
Macron's statement on sending troops to Ukraine
Ukrainian allies will create a coalition to provide the Ukrainian Armed Forces with long-range weapons, and perhaps in the future, deploy Western troops to the country, Macron stated after a conference in support of Ukraine held in Paris on Feb. 26.
Several NATO countries, including Poland, the United States, Germany, Czechia, Canada, and the United Kingdom publicly rejected Macron's statements about sending troops to Ukraine.
Read also: NATO support work in Ukraine possible, in line with international rules, says Czech President Pavel
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas did not rule out the possibility of sending troops, as did Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anušauskas, clarifying that it would only be for training missions.
The Netherlands Defense Chief, Onno Eichelsheim, said that "all options should be left open".
European NATO member countries have been studying the possibility of sending Alliance troops to Ukraine for weeks, AFP reported, citing its source.
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal explained on Feb. 29 that French troops could participate in the war on the side of Ukraine to defend certain borders, participate in exercises, or in ground-based air defense.
He ruled out the participation of French soldiers in combat "directly on the front line."
Read also:
NATO finally accepts possible clash with Russia, expert says
Macron considers two options for sending troops to Ukraine, says Ukrainian MP
We’re bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!
Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
