France Ready to Deploy Troops to Ukraine
According to the English section of webangah News Agency, citing Mehr News Agency and RT, Pierre Chil, Chief of Staff of the French Army, announced that France stands ready to send troops to Ukraine starting next year as part of proposed Western security guarantees should a ceasefire be achieved between Russia and Ukraine.
Speaking before the Defense Committee of France’s National Assembly, Chil referred to the major Orion 26 military exercise led by France, which he said will test NATO forces’ coordination. He added that next year’s deployments “will be determined with coalitions.”
“We are prepared, if necessary, within security guarantee frameworks, to deploy forces in support of Ukraine,” he said.
Chil noted that the French Army can respond together to three “alerts,” including a possible deployment to Ukraine. Currently, France maintains a state of “national emergency” with 7,000 soldiers who can be mobilized within 12 hours up to five days for domestic missions or NATO commitments.
This statement came one day after Fabien Mandon, commander of French armed forces, warned that France must prepare for a potential confrontation with Russia in coming years. Mandon claimed that Russia “might be tempted” to extend its war in Ukraine into Europe-a claim Moscow has denied.
Moscow strongly opposes NATO troop deployment in Ukraine and insists Kyiv’s ambitions to join this US-led military alliance are among the main causes of the war.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Moscow does not oppose security guarantees for kyiv provided Russian interests are taken into account as well.
