French Chief of Staff: "Support for Ukraine could go beyond delivery of weapons" / MACRON "France ready to react to another round of escalation by Russia"
The Chief of the Defense Staff of the French Armed Forces, General Thierry Burkhard, has said that Western support for Ukraine could go beyond just the delivery of weapons.
He said this in Paris while receiving his Swedish counterpart General Micael Byden, Ukrinform reports, citing BFMTV.
"The intention of the president [Macron] is to make Vladimir Putin understand that we are aware of what is happening in Ukraine," Burkhard said.
He added that Europeans must be able to take risks to ensure security in Europe in the next decade.
"Putin constructed his maneuver with the idea that the West will never go to Ukraine but will be content to supply weapons. We must show him that he will not be able to use this logic to go through with it," Burkhard said.
"We cannot consider that the war in Ukraine concerns us in the second degree. [It] concerns us because we are involved in its consequences," the general said.
According to him, Kyiv does not require support in terms of troops, but NATO, which Sweden has just joined, must prepare for all eventualities.
"A war is raging in Europe. We cannot let this become normal," Byden said at a joint press conference, adding that Sweden is ready to assume its responsibilities, deterrence and defense
Read also: France ready to react to another round of escalation by Russia - Macron
France ready to react to another round of escalation by Russia - Macron17.03.2024 07:24
France is prepared to react to another round of escalation on the part of Russia for the sake of the security of Ukraine and all Europeans, but will never initiate aggression.
This was stated by French President Emmanuel Macron, who spoke in an interview for Ukraine's national telethon, Ukrinform reports.
"If there is another round of escalation on the part of Russia, we will be ready to react for the sake of the security of Ukraine and Europeans, but France will never be the initiator of aggression," Macron said.
He noted that France has never escalated because the nation always bets on peace.
"We believe in negotiations, we have always done so. But in this situation, the aggressor is Russia... It is they who threaten everything. It is the Kremlin regime that initiates escalation," the French leader emphasized, adding that he always draws the line between the Kremlin regime, which "flew off the rails", and the people of Russia.
Macron emphasized that he has never stepped "onto the escalation path." At the same time, he stressed the need for collective responsibility and preparedness for any challenge.
As reported, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin said in a televised interview that Russia is technically ready for nuclear war should it be necessary to proceed on this track. Russia's nuclear forces are in combat readiness 24/7, he added.
Read also: Macron not ruling out sending French troops to Ukraine
French President Emmanuel Macron has said that the war in Ukraine is existential for Europe and for France, so he does not rule out the option of sending French troops to Ukraine if it is necessary in the future.
Macron stated this in an interview with leading French TV channels, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.
"The events of recent years show that what we thought was impossible sometimes happens. There are less than 1,500 kilometers between Strasbourg and Lviv. Do you understand? Just 1,500. The war is already here, it's very close," Macron said, asked about the possibility of sending French troops to Ukraine.
"We are not in such a situation now, but we do not rule out such a possibility," he said, adding that if Putin is not stopped, the war will not stop in Ukraine.
"So we need to be ready. And we are ready," he added.
On Friday, March 15, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk will meet in Berlin to resolve differences surrounding Ukraine.