Several NATO countries, such as the US, Germany, and the UK, have decided against sending ground troops to Ukraine, following French President Emmanuel Macron's statement that "nothing should be ruled out".
According to Macron, there is no agreement on deploying Western troops to Ukraine. A Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, has issued a warning about the possibility of direct conflict if NATO troops are deployed in the area.
NATO Allies Rebuke Macron's Warning
Recent advances by Russian forces in Ukraine have prompted an urgent request from Kyiv for additional weapons. Macron stated during a news conference on Monday evening that there could be a need for security measures that would justify certain deployment actions.
The French leader addressed attendees in Paris during a crisis meeting in support of Ukraine, with the presence of European heads of state, as well as representatives from the US and Canada. The conflict in Ukraine, initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been ongoing for three years now, showing no indication of coming to a resolution anytime soon. This war is the largest in Europe since World War Two.
Macron's remarks elicited reactions from other European and Nato member nations. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden is confident that the key to success lies in supplying military assistance to ensure Ukrainian troops are equipped with necessary weapons and ammunition for self-defense, according to a statement from the White House.
Per BBC, the German Chancellor confirmed that the agreed position remains unchanged, stating that no European country or Nato member state would deploy troops to Ukraine.
The UK Prime Minister's spokesperson stated that there are no current intentions for a significant military presence in Ukraine, aside from the limited number of personnel currently assisting with Ukrainian forces.
The Italian Prime Minister's office stated that Italy's assistance does not involve European or Nato troops being stationed in Ukraine. Previously, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated that he was not contemplating sending troops to Ukraine, but emphasized that the alliance would maintain its support for Ukraine, despite not being a NATO member.
That stance has been supported by several NATO member states such as Spain, Poland, and the Czech Republic. Russia possesses a significant amount of artillery and has a much larger military presence compared to Ukraine. Ukrainian troops heavily rely on receiving modern weapons from Western allies, especially the US.
Macron Expresses Willingness to Allow EU to Buy Weapons For Ukraine
On Monday, Macron expressed his willingness to allow European nations to buy ammunition for Ukraine from sources beyond the European Union. The Czech Republic has been advocating for those purchases to address immediate shortages, while Republicans in Congress delay the provision of new military aid from the United States.
Ever since Moscow initiated its full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago, the United States and the majority of its European partners have firmly rejected the idea of NATO troops directly getting involved in the conflict. They have cautioned that such a move might lead to a nuclear war.
President Biden stated that US troops would not be sent to Ukraine before the invasion and has maintained this stance in the days following. On Tuesday, a White House spokesperson, John Kirby, emphasized that President Biden has consistently stated that there will be no US troops on the ground in a combat role in that area, NY Times reported.
