Ukraine is currently situated between the proverbial rock and the literal hard place as military aid from the United States has all but dried up and the Russians have begun to incrementally reclaim regions that were taken back by the Ukrainian counteroffensive.
Enter French President Emmanuel Macron with an offer the Ukrainians cannot refuse. The European allies of the embattled state have agreed to make up for arms shortages by supplying medium and long-range missiles and gravity bombs.
However, in a move that certainly raised eyebrows in Moscow and Washington DC, Macron did not rule out providing ground forces to the fight.
Historically, the French have always marched to the beat of their own drum.
That drum only got louder after World War II when they, against the wishes of their allies in the United States and the United Kingdom, crafted nuclear weapons.
As a member of the United Nations Security Council, the French see themselves as a counterbalance to American dominance. As recently as 2021, France expressed disdain that its American allies supplied Australia, another ally, with nuclear-powered submarines.
Speaking after a Ukraine conference in Paris that was attended by world leaders from 20 nations, including Germany, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, with a virtual address from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Macron reiterated Europe's commitment.
"Shared conviction with our partners tonight: Russia cannot and must not win in Ukraine," Macron wrote in a post on X.
"It is on our continent that this war is taking place. What is at stake is our security as Europeans, it is our future. Alongside Ukraine, with our partners, we will be there resolutely, for as long as necessary and whatever that requires."
"We Will Do Everything So That Russia Cannot Win This War,"
Ahead of the summit, Macron said they would be discussing "our support for Ukraine and our collective security," which he said required "a collective leap from all of us."
While no definitive plan was given, Macron would not rule out ground troops from other European allies, something that Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened would lead to nuclear war.
However, on Tuesday NATO released a statement saying it had no plans to supply ground forces to fight against Russia.
"We will do everything so that Russia cannot win this war," said Macron.
The French president insisted that, if successful in Ukraine, Russia would attack other European countries within a matter of years.
France's official position is now strategic ambiguity on committing ground or air forces following the Czech Republic and Slovakia ruled out sending troops to fight in Ukraine under any circumstances.
