Ukrainian FM Kuleba on deploying Western troops to Ukraine: Macron meant military training

"When Macron started talking about sending troops to Ukraine, European leaders panicked," FM said.

"Macron only wanted to say that there is an opportunity to train the Ukrainian military directly in Ukraine, not abroad, as it is happening now."

Kuleba noted that Ukraine needs ammunition and weapons, but has never asked France to send troops to fight against Russia.

"We have never asked for people or armed help, we are proud of our soldiers," Kuleba added.

Macron's statement on sending troops to Ukraine

After a conference in support of Ukraine held in Paris on Feb. 26, Macron said that Ukraine's Western allies would create a coalition to provide the Ukrainian Armed Forces with long-range weapons, and that sending Western troops to Ukraine in the future should not be ruled out from plans.

In response to Macron's statements, a number of NATO countries publicly rejected the idea of sending troops to Ukraine. Among them are Poland, the United States, Germany, Czechia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anušauskas did not reject the possibility of sending troops, but clarified that it will be only a training missions. General Onno Eichelsheim, Chief of the General Staff of the Dutch Army, said that "all options should be left open."

The AFP news agency quoted a source as saying that European NATO member states had been studying the possibility of sending NATO troops to Ukraine for weeks.

On Feb. 29, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal explained that French troops could participate in the war on the side of Ukraine to protect certain borders, take part in exercises or ground air defense. He clarified that there will be no participation of French soldiers in battles "directly on the front line."