French President Emmanuel Macron's consideration of deploying troops to Ukraine, specifically to Odessa, has sparked significant discussion and speculation. Reports from Le Monde indicate Macron's private comments on February 21 about the necessity of sending forces to Odessa in the coming year, a statement made before major NATO countries rejected the idea. France is contemplating this deployment starting June 2023, a matter raised during the June 12, 2023, session of France's National Defense and Security Council. This move reflects Macron's broader strategy to assert France's leadership in Europe, amidst a backdrop of European divisions over the war in Ukraine and discussions about the creation of a European armed forces. Macron's comments have been interpreted as both a commitment to supporting Ukraine and a bid for informal leadership within Europe, challenging German caution and proposing a more active European role in the conflict.
The French were in #Odessa once before, a hundred years ago in the War of Intervention to reverse the outcome of the #Russian revolution. The nascent Red Army of workers peasants and soldiers and sailors gave them a bloody good hiding. #Macron #France #Ukraine #Russia
🇫🇷🇺🇦🇷🇺🚨‼️ BREAKING: Macron said in a closed circle that he would send the military to Odessa, Le Monde reports. “In any case, in the coming year I will have to send some guys to Odessa,” the French president said on the night of February 21 at the Elysee Palace, holding a glass… https://t.co/RjE6XT5wYN
Napoleon wanna be, macron said he will send French troops to Odessa… the bigger question remains, will French military listen… Macron said in a closed circle he will send military to Odessa — Le Monde. "In any case, I will have to send some people to Odessa next year," the… https://t.co/nlQCAeYPbF
Report in the French Le Monde: although Macron said five days ago that he “does not rule out” sending troops to Ukraine, now the French President stated that, in his opinion, "in any case, in about a year I am going to send people to Odessa" https://t.co/B4Bkj9gibW
🇫🇷🇺🇦 "War in Ukraine: the metamorphosis of Emmanuel Macron, dove turned hawk", - Le Monde ⚡ February 21, the war is getting bogged down. "Anyway, in the coming year, I’m going to have to send some guys to Odesa," Macron blurted out in front of a handful of guests. https://t.co/MkrRHkhMxB
Do you think Macron will send troops to Ukraine and go to war with Russia? https://t.co/Mog1DTt9q3
'In the coming year, I'm going to have to send some guys to Odessa' Macron told some guests last month, days before saying that we should not exclude the possibility of sending Western troops to Ukraine. https://t.co/pDQ6ure6zW https://t.co/ZxpCqGsth2
France is contemplating the deployment of troops to Ukraine starting June 2023, a matter raised during the June 12, 2023, session of France's National Defense and Security Council, as reported by Le Monde. According to Le Monde, on February 21, President Macron remarked to… https://t.co/7PPS3EDuFK
Macron said that whatever happens, next year he will “send guys to Odessa” https://t.co/WCFXhRFNQE
Le Monde writes that on February 21st Macron casually said French troops would be stationed in Odessa. This is days before every other major NATO country outright refused this idea so things may have changed but it speaks to the desperate situation in Ukraine and the EU. https://t.co/3mZwfsvdIz
Macron told a 'handful of guests' on February 21st that "Anyway, in the coming year, I'm going to have to send some guys to Odesa" - Le Monde https://t.co/sVjmAK7I0v https://t.co/cLsbYW5jyV
🇫🇷🇩🇪 "The creation of a European armed forces has been on the agenda for a long time, but Emmanuel Macron’s initiative is unlikely to result in anything significant. I think Macron is now more concerned with fighting with Scholz for informal leadership in Europe", - Yevhen Mahda,… https://t.co/IXHCoPPOEb
“Emmanuel Macron’s threats to send ground troops to Ukraine only exposes Europe’s deepening divisions over the war.” 🖊️ @EuroBriefing https://t.co/qG09Q6eKpv
Molly O'Neal: With Germany locked in its characteristic caution, France's Macron launched an effort to mobilize a united European drive which culminated with his now infamous 'boots on the ground' comment. It didn't go so well. https://t.co/l8dADXYwJz
Zelensky: the French army will be in Ukraine. https://t.co/6kLHNyTRRH
Even if Macron’s initiative seems to have divided rather than mobilized a united European front to defend Ukraine, his activism demonstrates the dawning awareness that Europe will have more responsibility for arming Ukraine, writes Molly O'Neal https://t.co/l8dADXYwJz
Will France announce they’re sending troops to Ukraine tonight?