Britain and France in Talks to Send Troops to Ukraine, Reports Le Monde
London and Paris have allegedly "reactivated" discussions that were previously stalled regarding the deployment of troops to participate in the conflict. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
According to Le Monde, direct Western involvement in the Ukraine conflict is reportedly back on the agenda.
The UK and France are said to have “reactivated” discussions regarding the potential deployment of troops to Ukraine, as reported by the French newspaper on Monday. This proposal has already created divisions among NATO members in Europe.
In February, French President Emmanuel Macron sparked debate when he expressed his readiness to send ground troops to Ukraine "to prevent Russia from winning this war." NATO officials quickly distanced themselves from his comments, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stating that Ukraine's Western allies were "unanimous" in their opposition to such a move.
The plan appeared to be on hold until British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's recent visit to Paris. Citing anonymous sources, Le Monde noted that discussions between Starmer and Macron regarding a possible Franco-British troop deployment to Ukraine have been “reactivated.”
While additional details were not disclosed, Le Monde speculated that any potential deployment might involve sending private-sector technicians to repair military equipment, employing private military contractors, or utilizing flag-wearing personnel for various roles, including frontline support or to help implement a future ceasefire and peace agreement.
Both British and French officials have hinted that a deployment could be in the works. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told the BBC over the weekend that Paris is "not ruling out any option" when asked specifically about the prospect of sending French troops to Ukraine.
A British military source informed Le Monde that “discussions are underway between the United Kingdom and France regarding defense cooperation, particularly with the aim of creating a core group of allies in Europe, focused on Ukraine and broader European security.”
The Kremlin has long asserted that Western special forces are active in Ukraine, with Russian President Vladimir Putin asserting that Ukraine would be unable to launch long-range missiles into Russian territory without Western expertise.
Following recent attacks on internationally-recognized Russian territory involving American ATACMS and British Storm Shadow missiles, Putin remarked that the Ukraine conflict has taken on “elements of a global nature.”
While Western media has been cautious in addressing the involvement of NATO personnel in these operations, Le Monde acknowledged that “it is not possible for the Ukrainians to use this type of missile without some form of Western support on the ground.” France has authorized Ukraine to utilize its Storm Shadow cruise missiles for long-range attacks on Russia, though it remains unclear if they have been deployed.
Putin reiterated that Russia reserves the right to target military facilities in countries that permit their weapons to be used against it and warned that “there will always be a response” to assaults on Russian territory.
In retaliation for the ATACMS and Storm Shadow strikes, the Russian military launched a new hypersonic ballistic missile— the nuclear-capable Oreshnik— at a Ukrainian military industrial facility in Dnepropetrovsk.
Mark B Thomas contributed to this report for TROIB News
The UK and France are said to have “reactivated” discussions regarding the potential deployment of troops to Ukraine, as reported by the French newspaper on Monday. This proposal has already created divisions among NATO members in Europe.
In February, French President Emmanuel Macron sparked debate when he expressed his readiness to send ground troops to Ukraine "to prevent Russia from winning this war." NATO officials quickly distanced themselves from his comments, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stating that Ukraine's Western allies were "unanimous" in their opposition to such a move.
The plan appeared to be on hold until British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's recent visit to Paris. Citing anonymous sources, Le Monde noted that discussions between Starmer and Macron regarding a possible Franco-British troop deployment to Ukraine have been “reactivated.”
While additional details were not disclosed, Le Monde speculated that any potential deployment might involve sending private-sector technicians to repair military equipment, employing private military contractors, or utilizing flag-wearing personnel for various roles, including frontline support or to help implement a future ceasefire and peace agreement.
Both British and French officials have hinted that a deployment could be in the works. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told the BBC over the weekend that Paris is "not ruling out any option" when asked specifically about the prospect of sending French troops to Ukraine.
A British military source informed Le Monde that “discussions are underway between the United Kingdom and France regarding defense cooperation, particularly with the aim of creating a core group of allies in Europe, focused on Ukraine and broader European security.”
The Kremlin has long asserted that Western special forces are active in Ukraine, with Russian President Vladimir Putin asserting that Ukraine would be unable to launch long-range missiles into Russian territory without Western expertise.
Following recent attacks on internationally-recognized Russian territory involving American ATACMS and British Storm Shadow missiles, Putin remarked that the Ukraine conflict has taken on “elements of a global nature.”
While Western media has been cautious in addressing the involvement of NATO personnel in these operations, Le Monde acknowledged that “it is not possible for the Ukrainians to use this type of missile without some form of Western support on the ground.” France has authorized Ukraine to utilize its Storm Shadow cruise missiles for long-range attacks on Russia, though it remains unclear if they have been deployed.
Putin reiterated that Russia reserves the right to target military facilities in countries that permit their weapons to be used against it and warned that “there will always be a response” to assaults on Russian territory.
In retaliation for the ATACMS and Storm Shadow strikes, the Russian military launched a new hypersonic ballistic missile— the nuclear-capable Oreshnik— at a Ukrainian military industrial facility in Dnepropetrovsk.
Mark B Thomas contributed to this report for TROIB News
