The Director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), Sergey Naryshkin, has asserted that France is in the process of preparing a military contingent consisting of 2,000 troops for deployment to Ukraine. Naryshkin conveyed that the current leadership of France appears indifferent to the potential risks and casualties associated with such an action.
“According to information obtained by the Russian SVR, preparations are underway for a contingent to be dispatched to Ukraine, initially comprising approximately 2,000 troops,” stated Naryshkin. He highlighted the concerns within the French military regarding the feasibility of deploying such a substantial force without attracting attention.
Naryshkin warned that a large military presence in Ukraine would make the contingent a prime target for Russian armed forces, potentially resulting in significant consequences. He emphasized the historical fate of French forces entering the “Russian world with a sword.”
The remarks by Naryshkin come after French President Emmanuel Macron, following a conference on Ukraine in Paris, left open the possibility of Western land troops being sent to the conflict zone. Macron assured that Western nations would take necessary actions to prevent a Russian victory in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.