Macron rules out sending troops to Ukraine in near future

PanARMENIAN.Net - French President Emmanuel Macron stated on Thursday that he had no immediate plans to send troops to Ukraine but reaffirmed that France might offer security guarantees once a ceasefire is reached. Macron is set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday.

Speaking to French social media users ahead of his visit to Washington, Macron emphasized that France was not preparing to deploy forces to Ukraine in the near term.

"I have not decided to send troops to Ukraine tomorrow, no," he said, according to France 24.

Instead, he suggested that French forces could play a role in ensuring stability once peace negotiations conclude.

"What we are considering instead is sending forces to guarantee peace once it has been negotiated," he said.

Macron also indicated he would press Trump to take a firm stance on Russia, warning against any perception of weakness in dealing with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"I'm going to tell him: 'You can't be weak with President Putin. That's not who you are, it's not your trademark, it's not in your interest'," Macron said.

The White House confirmed that Trump will host Macron in Washington on Monday, followed by a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday.

Trump has unsettled European allies by suggesting he is willing to restart diplomatic talks with Putin to resolve Russia's three-year conflict with Ukraine, potentially bypassing Kyiv and other European leaders.

French officials have recently underscored the severity of the threat posed by Moscow, stressing the need for public awareness of the situation.

Macron reiterated this concern earlier in the week, stating, "Russia poses an existential threat to Europeans."

On Thursday, he doubled down on calls for Europe to strengthen its defense capabilities in response to shifting geopolitical dynamics, particularly regarding U.S.-Russia relations.

"I am convinced that we are entering a new era. It will impose choices on us," Macron said. "We Europeans must increase our war effort."