French politician Jordan Bardella issued a stern warning on Friday, cautioning that if France, a NATO member, were to deploy troops to Ukraine, it could result in a direct conflict with Russia.
As Ukraine persists in its struggle against Russia’s full-scale invasion, initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin over two years ago, French President Emmanuel Macron has faced criticism for suggesting the potential deployment of troops to Ukraine to support the Eastern European nation in its battle against Moscow.
During a news conference in late February, Macron mentioned that the possibility of deploying troops on the ground has not been completely dismissed. This option was deliberated upon during a meeting involving 20 European leaders and other Western officials in Paris.
French President Emmanuel Macron stated that although there is currently no agreement to deploy troops on the ground in an official and endorsed capacity, it is important to acknowledge that circumstances can change.
French Defense Minister, Sรฉbastien Lecornu, provided further clarification regarding the talks held in Paris. He emphasized that the discussions mainly focused on de-mining efforts and military training operations in Ukraine, specifically away from the front lines.
The minister clarified that sending troops to wage war against Russia is not part of their plan.
Bardella, the head of France’s far-right National Rally party, expressed his disapproval of Macron’s remarks during a radio interview in France.
“The French people are feeling a tremendous amount of anxiety and concern due to the president’s words. There is a growing fear that these words might escalate tensions and potentially lead to a direct conflict with Russia,” Bardella expressed on Friday.
The politician expressed his belief that the French people are not inclined towards engaging in a confrontation with Russia. He emphasized the need for extreme caution on the part of his country.
In the 2022 French elections, Macron’s centrist Renaissance party faced a formidable challenge from the National Rally party. Macron emerged victorious in April 2022, defeating Marine Le Pen, the leader of the National Rally, with 58.55 percent of the vote compared to Le Pen’s 41.45 percent. However, Macron’s party suffered a setback in June 2022 as the National Rally party secured 81 seats and gained control of France’s parliament.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded to reporters’ questions about Macron’s comments, stating that the discussion of potentially sending troops from NATO countries to Ukraine is a significant development.
When asked about the potential risks of NATO countries deploying troops to Ukraine, Peskov emphasized that it would not be a matter of probability but rather an inevitable outcome leading to a direct conflict.
NATO members like the U.S. and Germany have firmly stated that they will not send ground troops to Ukraine. In fact, President Joe Biden has explicitly expressed his stance on this matter, emphasizing that the United States will not deploy its own military forces on the ground.
The European Union (EU), of which France is a part, and the United States have been staunch supporters of Ukraine in its battle against Russia. However, Republican lawmakers in the US have shown a decline in their support for providing further aid to Ukraine. This has resulted in a delay in funding that is crucial for the war-torn nation to sustain its fight against Moscow’s forces.
Concerns have arisen regarding Putin’s potential expansion of his war to NATO countries. Nevertheless, the Russian leader has explicitly stated that Moscow has no interest in engaging in conflict with NATO members.
NATO has strongly condemned Russia, accusing Moscow of engaging in a “war of aggression.” The alliance wholeheartedly backs Ukraine and asserts that Ukraine’s destiny lies within NATO. Although Ukraine is not currently a member of NATO, it is actively striving to become part of the military alliance.