French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the proposed European armed forces, if integrated with a final peace agreement and deployed to Ukraine, would be able to "respond" in the event of an attack launched by Moscow. Macron made these remarks after discussions with the Ukrainian President and ahead of a summit in Paris this week involving around 30 national leaders, where the proposed force for Ukraine will be discussed.
Read Also...:
Protests against Elon Musk's purge of US government swarm Tesla showrooms
03-30, 2025
Nurses shield newborn babies from tremors in China after Myanmar rocked by 7.7-magnitude earthquake
03-30, 2025
Prince Harry has been accused of bullying by the head of Sentebale charity. Here's what we know
03-30, 2025
Protesters against Elon Musk's purge of US government swarm Tesla showrooms
03-30, 2025Macron stated, "If there were a full-blown aggression against Ukrainian territory again, these troops would be attacked, and then we would enter the usual framework of engagement." He also emphasized, "Our soldiers, when engaged and deployed, would react and respond according to the decisions of the commander-in-chief, and also if they are in a conflict situation."
Macron, along with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is actively promoting the establishment of a coalition of nations to support the deployment of armed forces in Ukraine in some capacity, aiming to ensure lasting peace by deterring Russia from attacking the country again. Macron did not specify what kind of response he envisioned in the event of an attack launched by Russia.
Macron stated that the proposed European force would not be stationed on the front lines in Ukraine, "nor would it engage Russian troops on day one." They would "be a force to prevent the Russians from attacking again, showing the clear support of several European governments and allies by controlling important towns and strategic bases." He added, "Therefore, we are not on the front lines, we are not going to fight, but we are there to guarantee lasting peace. It is a pacifist approach. The only people who would then trigger a conflict, who would trigger a belligerent situation, would be the Russians if they decided to launch an aggression again."
Macron is expected to host 31 delegations at the Élysée Palace. According to the President's office, this is more than Macron gathered at the initial meeting in Paris in February, indicating that the coalition to help Ukraine, potentially including sending ground troops, is gaining momentum. However, a significant issue is the absence of the United States. U.S. President Trump's administration has not publicly expressed enthusiasm for the coalition's discussions about potentially sending troops to Ukraine after a final ceasefire to help maintain peace. Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, dismissed the idea of European deployment, even suggesting it was unnecessary. He stated in an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, "It's a combination of a gesture and a pose, and also an oversimplification."
The European perspective is different. The common premise for establishing the coalition is that Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions in Ukraine – from the illegal annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014 to the full-scale invasion in 2022 that triggered a full-blown war – demonstrate that he cannot be trusted. They believe that any peace agreement needs to be supported by security guarantees for Ukraine to deter Putin from attempting to occupy the country again.
