The United States and major European nations stated they had no intention of deploying ground forces to Ukraine, despite France’s earlier hints at such a possibility and Russia’s warning that this would lead to direct conflict with NATO.
French President Emmanuel Macron, on Monday, suggested that the West should consider all options to prevent a Russian triumph in Ukraine, though he acknowledged the lack of consensus on this matter.
This discussion occurred during an emergency European leadership meeting in Paris, aimed at enhancing support for Kyiv amidst the advancements of Russian forces in Eastern Ukraine and the increasing shortages faced by Ukraine in terms of ammunition and manpower.
Nevertheless, countries such as Germany, the UK, Spain, Poland, and the Czech Republic clarified that they would not be sending ground troops to the conflict in Ukraine, which is now entering its third year.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Defence Minister Boris Pistorius both emphasized their stance against deploying ground forces.
Similarly, the White House confirmed its position, focusing instead on pushing for the approval of a security aid package to support Ukraine with necessary weapons and ammunition.
In response to the discussions, French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne clarified that Macron’s comments were about sending troops for specific non-combat roles like mine clearance, onsite weapon production, and cyber defense, which would not involve engaging in combat.
Scholz mentioned that the meeting led to a consensus on purchasing weapons from non-European countries to expedite military aid to Ukraine. Germany has been a significant provider of military support to Kyiv since the conflict escalated on February 24, 2022, but remains cautious about actions that could draw NATO into a direct clash with Russia.
The Kremlin, through spokesman Dmitry Peskov, highlighted the seriousness of the discussions on NATO countries potentially sending troops, indicating that such a move would almost guarantee a confrontation.
