French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday that sending Western troops on the ground in Ukraine is not “ruled out” in the future after the issue was debated at a gathering if European leaders, as Russia’s full-scale invasion grinds into a third year.
The French leader said at the meeting of 20 European heads of state and other Western officials in Paris that “we will do everything needed so Russia cannot win the war.”
“There’s no consensus today to send in an official, endorsed manner troops on the ground. But in terms of dynamics, nothing can be ruled out,” Macron said in a news conference.
If the Kremlin is there without an invitation murdering civilians, surely democratic countries can be there too, except with an invitation and warm welcome.
France can send their troops on a special military operation to Ukraine. It’s totally not war.
NATO question here: if (purely as an example) Poland joins the war in Ukraine, do they give up Article V protection if somebody like Russia later makes territorial gains into Poland in the same war?
The short answer is it depends.
The long answer is that treaties and international law are pretty window dressing around the utterly anarchic reality of geopolitics. If states saw it as in their best interest to allow Poland to fall to Russia, they would allow it regardless of whatever treaties they previously signed.
Article 5 provides that the alliance must support a member after an armed attack against them on their territory in Europe or North America. In plain reading, this would apply should Russia attack Polish soil regardless of who started the war. In reality, it really depends.
No one (in the west) wants a ‘real’ war. War is a distraction from making money. If Poland expanded the war by joining in, I doubt they would receive the full support of the alliance.
I could see us creating an exclusion zone like the Falkland wars to avoid a nuclear war. Not sure if Russia would agree or not. It would be In their best interest to agree to it. Ukraine would be the battleground and everything else would be war free.
They should have been there before the invasion on training exercises with the Ukrainians. Rotating between the European forces.
They say the best defence is a good offence. Therefore, the best offence is an active defence.
I know it’s not a popular opinion but how about we don’t escalate a war with a nuclear super power.
In history a war ending in total victory is a rare thing, peace is much more often achieved with a negotiated settlement or a ceasefire. Now with nuclear weapons a total victory is even more unimaginable, whatever the war aims of the West they are not worth the risk.
Just to be extra clear: A ceasefire does not mean recognizing the occupied territories. A negotiated settlement does not mean no consequences for starting a war of aggression. But the people that decided to escalate this conflict are not the ones dying on the frontline. The soldiers dying are conscripts, people that did not have the means or connections to escape this horrible fait.
Appeasement does not work either. What do you propose? Let them take Ukraine, and continue west?
A ceasefire or a negotiated settlement. This continue-west war mongering is complete bs, they can’t even take Ukraine. How is Russia ever supposed to roll over Europe.
Plus taking over all of Ukraine is an unattainable war aim of Russia, their army and economy is not sufficient to subdue such a large population on such a large land mass. Especially considering how cohesive the Ukrainian population has been thus far. So if both sides can not realistically achieve their goals there is room for a positive sum negotiation.
How is Russia ever supposed to roll over Europe.
The same way they are taking over Ukraine: invade, occupy and threaten mutual destruction unless appeasement demands are met. You r solution is not a compromise for Russia when it gets exactly what it wanted.
“War is upon you whether you like it or not”.
They’re just French people on vacation to Crimea with guns.
And obviously you can’t give the army a vacation without giving the navy and air force one too.
