FRANCE’S MACRON SAYS TROOPS FOR UKRAINE ARE NOT OFF THE TABLE

Fri 03 May 2024:

In a Thursday interview with The Economist, French President Emmanuel Macron, reiterated his earlier claims that if Russia breaches the Ukrainian front lines and the Ukrainian government requests it, he has not ruled out sending ground forces to that country.

“If the Russians were to break through the front lines, if there were a Ukrainian request, which is not the case today, we would legitimately have to ask ourselves this question,” he said.

In February, France made a commitment to provide more weapons, train troops in Ukraine, and provide military assistance for up to 3 billion euros ($3.21 billion).

When French President was asked, if he stood by comments earlier this year about not excluding the sending of Western troops to Ukraine, Macron said: “Absolutely. As I said, I’m not ruling anything out, because we are facing someone who is not ruling anything out.”

European countries need to protect themselves, the French president said, adding that Russia has been aggressive in destabilising the region, including by threatening to use nuclear weapons.

“I have a clear strategic objective: Russia cannot win in Ukraine,” Macron said.

“If Russia wins in Ukraine, there will be no security in Europe,” he told The Economist. “Who can pretend that Russia will stop there? What security will there be for the other neighbouring countries, Moldova, Romania, Poland, Lithuania and the others?”

The United States has said it will not put boots on the ground, but agreed to send long-delayed military aid of $61bn.

Russia has warned that a conflict with NATO would be unavoidable if European alliance members dispatched troops to fight in Ukraine.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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