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French President Emmanuel Macron has angered American officials. The reason was his statements that he would send his country's troops to Ukraine. The USA fears that this move could lead to a clash with the Russian Federation.
This was reported by the Bloomberg agency with reference to a source familiar with the discussions between the allies. At the same time, it is noted that some prime ministers of EU countries expect leadership from Macron, so many welcome his tough stance towards the Russian Federation.
The interlocutor of the publication emphasizes that Macron made his hints in order to force the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin to "reflect". However, according to officials who are familiar with NATO's discussions regarding Ukraine, the words of the French leader could have the opposite effect.
Agency sources also called Macron's comments "not very smart" from the point of view of operational security. The article notes that several countries have already secretly placed a certain contingent in Ukraine.
Some prime ministers of the European Union still support the position of the French president regarding Russia. However, his critics emphasize that he "talks more than he does." As an example, they cite the Czech initiative to purchase ammunition for Ukraine. Macron announced his support last week, but his country has not yet announced a financial contribution to the project.
Bloomberg adds that, despite the controversy surrounding the statements about the possible dispatch of Western troops to Ukraine, Macron refused to back down from his idea. He insists that he has carefully considered all his words, but noted that France will not follow the "logic of escalation" in relations with the Kremlin.
Sending Western troops to Ukraine
It is known that back in Paris on February 26, at a meeting with EU leaders, Macron stated that in the future the sending of Western troops to Ukraine cannot be ruled out. According to him, the West will do everything necessary to ensure that Russia does not win the war, stressing that Moscow's defeat is critical for ensuring security and stability in Europe.
In one of the recent interviews, the French leader confirmed that such a step is quite possible, but there are certain limitations. First of all, this requires the approval of the country's government, and even under such conditions, the French military will not attack Russia under any circumstances.
His idea was supported by the Netherlands, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Canada. Countries are considering the possibility of sending military specialists to Ukraine. It is planned that they will perform auxiliary functions, such as training the Ukrainian military, transferring knowledge and experience without engaging in hostilities.
