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France Considering Ground Troops For Ukraine As War Escalates

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

PARIS/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Europe edged closer to a broader war with France’s President Emmanuel Macron refusing to rule out sending ground troops to Ukraine, though a U.S. diplomat told Worthy News that NATO military alliance forces are already in the wartorn nation.

Macron spoke after a meeting in Paris of 20 mainly European leaders to discuss a European response to the Russian military advances inside Ukraine.

Protecting France’s strategic ambiguity, he said, “there is no consensus to back any ground troops officially. That said, nothing should be excluded. We will do everything that we can to make sure that Russia does not prevail.”

He pointed out that past shibboleths, such as sending long-range missiles and planes, had been cast aside, adding, “People used to say give them just sleeping bags and helmets.” He said: “We must do whatever we can to obtain our objective.”

His comments after a well-informed U.S. security diplomat who earlier accurately predicted when Russia’s invasion would begin told Worthy News that thousands of NATO forces are active in Ukraine.

Yet the under-the-radar troops have never been officially recognized, though the U.S. President came close during a visit to Poland when suggesting that U.S. troops had seen warfare in Ukraine.

However, openly sending European troops to Ukraine would add another element of tension with Russia, which began invading Ukraine in February 2022.

FIRST DISCUSSION

It is the first time there has been such open discussion of nation-states collectively looking at providing troops to support the depleted Ukrainian military workforce, observers noted.

Separately, the United States said ahead of Monday’s talks that leaders in Paris came to an “understanding” on a possible deal for Hamas to release hostages and for a new ceasefire between the group and Israel in the Gaza war.

“Representatives of Israel, the United States, Egypt, and Qatar met in Paris and came to an understanding among the four of them about what the basic contours of a hostage deal for a temporary ceasefire would look like,” White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said.

Yet Western officials made clear that the conflict in Gaza won’t take away there from the war in Gaza. “There is a change in Russia’s stance. It is striving to take on further territory, and it has its eyes not just on Ukraine but on many other countries as well, so Russia is presenting a greater danger,” Macron warned.

Among those present at the meeting were the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, Britain’s UK foreign secretary, Lord Cameron, the Polish president, Andrzej Duda, and the outgoing Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, who is expected to be the next NATO secretary-general.

Relatively junior officials attended from the US and Canada, critics said.

With the U.S. Congress upholding billions in military aid to Ukraine, the Netherlands is contributing more than 100 million euros ($108 million) to a Czech initiative to purchase artillery shells for Ukraine quickly, Outgoing Prime Minister Rutte said Monday.