French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu sought to clarify the nature of potential European military involvement in Ukraine, emphasizing that any troops deployed would not engage in combat against Russian forces. This announcement came in the wake of discussions prompted by French President Emmanuel Macron’s remarks on the possibility of ground troop deployments, which led to widespread speculation and concern among NATO allies and Moscow.
During a National Assembly’s defense committee hearing, Lecornu stressed that the focus of France’s and its allies’ support for Ukraine is on non-combat roles, specifically mentioning mine clearing and the training of Ukrainian troops as key areas of discussion. The concept of training Ukrainian forces on their own soil, away from the front lines, was among the ideas considered, aiming to address Ukraine’s growing need for trained personnel amid ongoing conflict. France, along with over 20 other NATO countries, has already been actively involved in training Ukrainian troops, with programs conducted both in France and abroad.
Lecornu also touched upon the topic of military advisors, suggesting that while France has previously engaged in such partnerships in other contexts, its role in Ukraine could evolve to include similar support, albeit cautiously due to the sensitive nature of the involvement.
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