Macron mulls sending special forces into Ukraine — report
France is considering sending some of its special forces units into Ukraine to protect key infrastructure and limit Russian strikes, Le Monde reported on March 1.
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Paris may allow special forces and other military units to cross the Ukrainian border, creating a "strategic dilemma" for Moscow. The journalists’ sources believe that the presence of French troops could help safeguard some Ukrainian territories from Russian attacks.
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, numerous government entities with connections to Western intelligence services have been present in Ukraine, Le Monde notes.
According to the report, covert diplomatic personnel, advisers, and intelligence service employees have played certain roles in the war effort.
“The nature of these services is secretive, and therefore, they are not subject to the laws of war,” former employee of France's Directorate-General for External Security, Vincent Crouzet, told Le Monde.
Read also: France weighing sending soldiers to Ukraine for strategic border control or airspace protection – PM
A Ukrainian diplomatic source, who wished to remain anonymous, said that all allied states have a presence in Ukraine, although none have sent combat units thus far.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is pleased that the issue of a more direct involvement of its partners is being discussed as the war enters its third year.
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“If there are arms supplies, there should be people providing information on how to use this equipment on the ground," the Ukrainian source said.
Before the summit of European leaders in Paris on Feb. 26, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stated that several NATO and EU member states were discussing the possibility of sending their militaries to Ukraine based on bilateral agreements. Slovakia will not take such a step but will respect the decisions of countries that agree to send troops to Ukraine.
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French President Emmanuel Macron said later that sending Western troops to Ukraine in the future “could not be ruled out,” though he added that there is currently no agreement on the issue.
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal echoed Macron’s statement regarding the possibility of sending Western troops to Ukraine, emphasizing that Paris would not accept a situation where Russia wins the war.
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