French President Emmanuel Macron announced steps to boost Ukraine in its fight against Russia on Monday, suggesting that even sending Western ground troops was possible to ensure Europe’s goal of defeating Moscow. Macron highlighted the necessity of defeating Russia for European security and stability, noting Russia’s increasingly aggressive behavior.
While the possibility of sending Western ground troops to Ukraine was not universally supported, Macron stressed that no options should be excluded to prevent Russia from winning the war. The need for strategic ambiguity was cited by Macron when discussing France’s position on the matter.
The formation of a new coalition to supply Ukraine with missiles and bombs for deep strikes was proposed by Macron, with a broad consensus to increase support quickly. Other European leaders, such as Czech Premier Petr Fiala and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, expressed support for initiatives to bolster Ukraine’s military capabilities.
Amid concerns about Russia’s hardening stance and the effectiveness of Western assistance, Macron called for a ‘leap’ in the West’s approach to account for evolving military threats. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged continued support from allies, acknowledging the risk of Russia gaining the upper hand as Ukraine faces challenges in receiving promised military aid.
