The head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), Sergei Naryshkin, has claimed that France is preparing to send 2,000 troops to Ukraine, labeling the potential deployment a legitimate target for Russian forces. These assertions, made on the SVR’s website, follow remarks by General Pierre Schill, chief of staff of the French land forces, about France’s readiness for severe military engagements, though not specifically mentioning Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron has been vocal about the potential for Western military support, including ground troops, to aid Ukraine against Russian aggression. Macron’s administration has taken a firmer stance against Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom Macron recently described as a threat to European security.
The French defense ministry has dismissed Naryshkin’s statements as “irresponsible” disinformation. Meanwhile, General Thierry Burkhard, chief of France’s Armed Forces, emphasized the importance of demonstrating to Putin that the West might extend its support for Ukraine to include troop deployment.
Discussions about Western troop involvement in Ukraine have sparked debate among NATO allies, with countries like Germany and the U.S. opposing the idea, while others, including Estonia and Czechia, suggest that non-combat roles could be considered.
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