Macron raised the possibility yesterday in Paris. The idea does not get support from other NATO countries.
the president of France Emmanuel Macron the idea of sending ground troops to Ukraine does not get support from other NATO countries.
President Sauli Niinistö says there will be no Western military presence in Ukraine.
According to Niinistö, possible military and non-military means were discussed yesterday Monday in Paris under Macron’s leadership.
– There was a widely shared perception that there would be no military presence. This was also Finland’s position, Niinistö says in his email reply to .
The leaders of twenty countries were at the meeting called by Macron. The purpose was to openly discuss supporting Ukraine.
In his email reply, Niinistö says that the discussion was useful, and that Ukraine’s material needs were particularly emphasized.
– In order to fulfill them, it may be necessary to consider new ways, Niinistö says.
After the discussion, at a press conference, Macron brought up the idea of sending ground troops to Ukraine. According to Macron, this should not be ruled out. However, according to Macron, there is no consensus about the troops.
Macron argued that during the war, the West has consistently been late in supporting Ukraine. For example, handing over tanks and aircraft is ruled out until this is done. Countries have avoided handing over weapons that are too powerful, among other reasons, because it is feared that it will lead to an escalation or expansion of the war.
Sending troops to Ukraine has not been considered possible in the NATO countries, so that the soldiers of Russia and NATO countries do not face each other.
France’s arms aid to Ukraine has been relatively smaller in terms of monetary value than, for example, the arms surrenders of the Baltic countries, Germany and the Nordic countries. Yesterday, however, France agreed to relax its position that only weapons purchased from EU countries will be handed over to Ukraine.
Sending troops does not get support from others
The idea of Western ground troops for Ukraine has not received support from other NATO countries either.
Chancellor of Germany By Olaf Scholz yesterday it was agreed that neither NATO countries nor European countries will send soldiers to Ukrainian soil.
The leaders of Poland and the Czech Republic said in their joint press conference that the countries do not support the idea.
– If all EU countries supported Ukraine except Poland and the Czech Republic, there would be no need to discuss other forms of support, the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.
According to the Spanish government, Europe’s best weapon against Putin’s attack is unity, and Spain is not in favor of sending ground troops.
Britain does not support the idea of ground forces either.
– Britain already has a small number of people in the country supporting the Ukrainian military, for example training in medicine. We have no plans for a large-scale deployment of troops, the prime minister’s spokesman said.
The Russian Kremlin warned today that sending troops from NATO countries to Ukraine would inevitably mean war between NATO and Russia.
Sources: , AFP, Reuters