The idea of direct Western participation in the conflict is reportedly back on the table, according to the newspaper
The UK and France have “reactivated” talks on sending troops to Ukraine, French newspaper Le Monde reported on Monday. The idea has already caused a rift among European NATO members.
Back in February, French President Emmanuel Macron caused controversy by declaring his willingness to send ground troops to Ukraine “to prevent Russia from winning this war.” The statement was quickly disavowed by NATO officials, while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told reporters that Ukraine’s Western backers were “unanimous” in their opposition to the idea.
The plan was seemingly shelved, Le Monde has reported, until British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Paris earlier this month. Citing anonymous sources, the French newspaper claimed that talks on a possible Franco-British deployment to Ukraine were “reactivated” by Starmer and Macron.
No further information was provided, and Le Monde speculated that this deployment could range from both nations sending private-sector technicians to repair military equipment (as Britain already does), to private military contractors (as Russia insists that France does), to flag-wearing personnel on the ground, either on the front line or to enforce an eventual ceasefire and peace deal.
Considering these talks about sending troops, or even nukes, to Ukraine were revived/started after Russia launching an IRBM into Ukraine I don’t think that would work at all. If the west directly attacking Russia didn’t result in any retaliation by Russia, the IRBMs fell into Ukraine after all, the west might be more confident than ever that Russia will not attack them directly and from the point of view a nuke blowing up in Ukraine might just serve to further solidify in the minds of western leaders that Russia will not do anything directly against them, meaning they can escalate with “giving nukes to Ukraine” and such things.
Considering the situation of the west I’d say we will likely know where this is going within the next couple months anyway.