Private French company “Défense Conseil International” (DCI) is in discussions, according to reports from the newspaper The Worldwith the Ministry of Defense to study the sending of French troops to Ukraine soon. These deliberations have reportedly been underway for several weeks, as part of broader exchanges between France and the United Kingdom to send human military support to kyiv, as the conflict experiences a new round of escalation and with the prospect of an American disengagement following the election of Donald Trump, who promises to “end the war in 24 hours”.
Conventional troops, private defense companies… The question of sending Western troops to Ukrainian territory would have been put back on the table during the visit of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to Paris during the ceremonies on November 11. The debate, initiated by Emmanuel Macron during a meeting of kyiv’s allies last April, nevertheless provoked an outcry from many European countries, led by Germany. Even today, “discussions are underway between the United Kingdom and France concerning defense cooperation”, confides to World an anonymous British military source.
France is however exploring several options. Notably the proposal from the company DCI, of which the State is a 34% shareholder. It is a French international company, responsible in particular for major export contracts for military equipment and armaments from the French government in the areas of defense and security, and made up of 80% former military personnel. Last September, the private company was mandated to carry out part of the training of Ukrainian soldiers alongside French soldiers from France from October 1. A way according to the “Forces Operation Blog” site to “compensate for the lack of trainers and interpreters available in the armies, strengthen the training offer and, ultimately, consolidate a mission through which France has trained nearly 14,000 Ukrainian soldiers”.
Training, medical aid and maintenance of military equipment
DCI recruits could now be sent directly to the Ukrainian field. According to the online media La Lettre, which confirms this Thursday the information of Worldthis French presence in Ukraine would concern more precisely “training in the handling of Caesar cannons, drones and even medical support”. It could also ensure the maintenance of French military equipment sent to kyiv, according to The World. “DCI was approached in this regard by Babcock, a British counterpart company already present in Ukraine, to share the facilities available to the latter. In May, Babcock announced that work was “in progress” to create a technical support site to Ukraine, “including the repair and overhaul of military vehicles”, specifies the newspaper. A cooperation which is not currently operational, but which is now made possible by authorization from the Biden administration. , at the beginning of November, of the presence of private military companies in Ukraine The goal? To ensure the maintenance of allies’ military equipment, such as F-16s or air defense systems.
On November 23, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot declared in an interview with the BBC: “We are not ruling out any option” regarding sending French troops on the ground. He called on Western allies to do the same, and “not to set and express red lines” regarding their support for Ukraine. But no green light has yet been given by the Ministry of the Armed Forces or the Elysée. According to the sources of Worldit is today impossible for Ukraine to use the long-range missiles recently sent by its allies, without a Western support force, the latter (French Scalp or British Storm Shadow) having to be programmed before being embarked by a bomber.