Macron does not rule out sending troops to Ukraine. Is Europe heading towards war with Russia?
Speaking after hosting a meeting of two dozen European leaders to discuss Ukraine, Macron painted a grim picture of a Russia whose positions he said were "hardening" both at home and on the battlefield.
“We are convinced that the defeat of Russia is indispensable for security and stability in Europe,” he declared .
Russia, he said, is showing a “more aggressive attitude not only in Ukraine but in general.”
Even if there is no “consensus” on sending Western ground troops to Ukraine, “nothing should be ruled out. We will do everything necessary to ensure that Russia cannot win this war,” he said.
Macron said the new coalition would be created to provide Ukraine with “medium and long-range missiles and bombs to carry out deep strikes.”
There is “broad consensus to do more and faster,” he added.
“Nothing can be ruled out to achieve our goal. Russia cannot win this war."
Words with heavy consequences
Macron said harsh words which, in other times, would have led to general mobilization and therefore, almost certainly, to war which, in this case, would have been a world war. It would be enough to remember the case of the Ems Dispatch to understand how incorrect or manipulated or unclear communication can cause a disastrous and bloody war.
In this case we have the head of state and also the head of the executive who, at an international, public meeting, does not rule out sending troops to an active battlefield. Here we are walking a tightrope, or rather a little further.
The Armée de Terre, the French army
Russia is 'hardening'
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Polish President Andrzej Duda were among around 25 European heads of state and government at the conference.
Other states sent ministers, with Foreign Secretary David Cameron in Paris for Britain, and the United States and Canada were also represented.
At the opening of the conference at the Elysée, Macron said that Ukraine's allies must kick-start their support after the third year of war.
“We have seen a hardening on the part of Russia, especially in the last few months,” Macron said.
He said this was manifested in the February 16 death of President Vladimir Putin's main opponent, Alexei Navalny, but also in a hardening of Russia's positions on the front line, where it is planning "new attacks."
Macron said a “leap” was needed from the West in its approach that “takes into account the transformation of the threat from a military and strategic point of view”.
The conference highlighted Macron's desire to present himself as a European champion of the Ukrainian cause, amid growing fears that American support could decline in the coming months.
“Together we must ensure that Putin cannot destroy our gains and cannot expand his aggression to other nations,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a short video message to the conference.
Will we see French and European soldiers in Ukraine?
At this point, what will be the evolution if the conflict continues and Russia does not withdraw? Is this message from Macron to be understood as an ultimatum, like the one that Austria sent to Piedmont on 23 April 1859 and which led to the second war of independence?
Because, at this point, thinking that a speech by Macron could stop war events that have been going on for two years seems quite unlikely. So the real question at this point is: are these words empty or will they have dangerous consequences?
Thanks to our Telegram channel you can stay updated on the publication of new Economic Scenarios articles.
Macron article does not rule out sending troops to Ukraine. Is Europe heading towards war with Russia? comes from Economic Scenarios .
This is a machine translation of a post published on Scenari Economici at the URL https://scenarieconomici.it/macron-non-esclude-linvio-di-truppe-in-ucraina-leuropa-va-verso-una-guerra-con-la-russia/ on Tue, 27 Feb 2024 07:00:18 +0000.