French President Emmanuel Macron meant to send troops to Ukraine for training Ukrainian soldiers in the country, not beyond its borders.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba clarified this in a conversation with foreign journalists.
“When Macron talked about deploying troops to Ukraine, European leaders panicked. Macron simply meant the possibility of training Ukrainian soldiers directly in Ukraine, not outside the country as it is happening now,” – the newspaper La Stampa quotes him as saying.
He added that Kyiv never asked for the deployment of personnel. Kuleba also stated that Kyiv needs ammunition, drones, and long-range missiles to “destroy logistical centers of the Russian command on occupied territories.”
The French leader stated that during a meeting in Paris in late February where representatives of about 20 Western countries discussed further support for Kyiv in the conflict with Moscow, the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine was raised. According to him, the participants failed to reach a consensus on this issue, but such a scenario cannot be ruled out in the future. He later clarified his statement, explaining that “not ruling something out does not mean doing it.” Representatives of most countries stated that they do not plan to send troops to Ukraine and, moreover, are against their involvement in combat operations against Russia. Nevertheless, despite criticism, the French leader assured that his words were “considered, well-thought-out, and deliberate,” and once again reiterated that he does not rule out the possibility of sending troops.