France’s proposal that Ukraine’s allies may send ground troops into Ukraine has sparked alarm in Russia, with authorities warning that it could lead to a direct battle between Russia and NATO member nations.
French President Emmanuel Macron raised eyebrows Monday when he stated that European heads of state and Western officials who gathered in Paris on Monday discussed the prospect of sending foot soldiers into Ukraine.
“There is no agreement now to send soldiers on the ground in an official, open, and endorsed manner. However, in terms of dynamics, nothing can be ruled out. “We will do everything possible to ensure that Russia does not win this war,” Macron declared at a press conference Monday evening.
Moscow seized on the words, with Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s press secretary, warning reporters Tuesday that sending soldiers to fight in Ukraine would almost certainly lead to a clash between Russia and NATO.
“In this case, we need to talk not about probability, but about inevitability, and that’s how we evaluate it,” he said when asked about the chances of a direct battle between Russia and the Western military alliance if its forces crossed the border, according to Tass.
Peskov went on to say that NATO nations “must also evaluate” the repercussions of such acts and “ask the question whether this corresponds to their interests, and most importantly, the interests of the citizens of their countries.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also spoke out, warning any nations considering deploying soldiers to Ukraine to “use their heads,” according to Tass news agency.
“It seems to me that those who not only express such thoughts, but even admit them in their heads, should still use that head for more rational thoughts, [as it’s] safer for Europe,” Lavrov told reporters at a news conference on Tuesday.
European countries have retracted their words, with Germany quickly denying any intentions to deploy soldiers on Ukrainian land. The United Kingdom and Spain have also officially condemned the plan, which would pit NATO soldiers in direct battle with longstanding adversary and nuclear power Russia.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that European leaders and officials from the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States who met in Paris on Monday had reached no consensus on the deployment of ground soldiers.
“Once again, in a very good debate, it was discussed that what was agreed from the outset among ourselves and with each other also applies to the future, namely that there will be no ground troops, no soldiers on Ukrainian soil sent there by European countries or NATO states,” Scholz said while speaking on the sidelines of an event.
According to Reuters, Robert Habeck, Germany’s deputy chancellor, also offered “advice” to France, stating it would be more beneficial for the nation to supply weapons and tanks to Ukraine. He also stated that there would be “no German soldiers on Ukrainian soil.”
A spokesperson for U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the government has no intentions for a “large-scale” deployment of soldiers to Ukraine, in addition to the modest number of servicemen already there to help Ukraine’s military.
Madrid has also officially dismissed the suggestion, with government spokesman Pilar Alegria stating that Spain opposes a French plan to send European foot soldiers to Ukraine.
She also stated that Spain intended to limit help supplying additional weaponry and other materials to Kyiv.
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