French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne clarified on the radio station France Inter that France has no plans to send its troops to Ukraine. Speaking candidly, he stated, “The French will not die for Ukraine. We will not send troops.”
This statement follows discussions among representatives of about 20 Western countries, including France, who convened in Paris on February 26 to explore further support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. French President Emmanuel Macron mentioned that the possibility of dispatching Western ground forces to Ukraine was raised during the meeting. However, no consensus was reached among the participants, and Macron acknowledged that while such a scenario cannot be ruled out in the future, it was not an immediate plan.
Post the conference, representatives from the majority of participating countries made it clear that sending troops to Ukraine was not on their agenda. Moreover, there was a collective stance against direct military involvement in hostilities against Russia.
France’s decision aligns with the broader international approach, emphasizing non-military support and diplomatic measures to address the ongoing conflict. The rejection of troop deployment underscores the complexities and sensitivities surrounding the situation in Ukraine, with nations opting for diplomatic channels to seek resolutions while avoiding direct military involvement.