Geoana, about Macron’s announcements: NATO has no intention of sending troops to Ukraine. There is no discussion about this

The Deputy Secretary General of NATO, Mircea Geoană, said on Friday, in the LIVE show with Rotaru and Kiss, on Digi24, about the statements of French President Emmanuel Macron that Western troops could be sent to Ukraine, that NATO has no intention of sending soldiers to Ukrainian territory, stating that at the moment there are no discussions in this regard.

Asked if NATO intends to send soldiers to the front in Ukraine, Mircea Geoană answered: “At the NATO level, NATO leaders can make statements, they have every right to do so, but we as NATO, as an alliance, at the moment do not have any of planning and political intent to have NATO troops in Ukraine. We are preparing the summit in Washington in July, and then we will ask the leaders of the Alliance for a greater coordinating role of NATO in supporting Ukraine. We still have the same care not to escalate this war, that’s why being vigilant, being firm is very important. The situation is delicate on the front, these differences in forces, ammunition and equipment have left traces on the front in Ukraine, but we do not see such serious issues”.

Regarding the possibility of NATO allowing Western troops to be sent to Ukraine, Geoana also said: “NATO works by consensus. At the moment we do not have a NATO conversation regarding this option. We remain consistent with our line – massive support for Ukraine without risking escalation of the war in Ukraine to a war between Russia and NATO. But we are preparing to defend our territory and population”.

In an interview with The Economist, Macron said he would consider sending ground troops to Ukraine if Russia succeeds in breaking the front. He argues that should Ukraine ask for military aid on the ground, the West cannot ignore it.

“If the Russians succeed in breaking through the front line, if there is a Ukrainian demand – which is not the case today – we should legitimately ask the question,” the French president told the British weekly.

“To rule this out a priori means not learning the lessons of the last two years,” given that NATO countries initially ruled out sending tanks and planes to Ukraine, and eventually changed their minds, he added, quoted by Agerpres.

The French head of state sparked controversy at the end of February, saying that sending Western troops to Ukrainian soil should not be “ruled out” in the future.

He explained that he wants to restore “strategic ambiguity” in the European response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Most European countries, as well as the United States, clearly distanced themselves from his remarks, even if some have since taken a step in that direction.

Editor: Loredana Bancas