Bloomberg: Macron’s statements about the introduction of troops into Ukraine angered US officials

According to the news agency, the officials said in private conversations that such a move could provoke a confrontation with Moscow.

Some officials familiar with NATO’s discussions on Ukraine say that such statements by the French leader may have had the opposite effect, but Macron managed to “dispel the long-standing uncertainty about red lines” among the allies.

Bloomberg interviewees said the words are not smart from an operational security perspective, especially given that several countries already have some personnel in Ukraine indirectly.

It is noted that France’s domestic politics are also influencing this, as Macron is putting Ukraine first in his election campaign, portraying his far-right opponent Marine Le Pen as an ally of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.

But some EU leaders still look to Macron’s leadership, and many welcome his tough stance on Russia. At the same time, critics of the French president say that he talks more than he does.

Bloomberg provided the example of the Czech Republic, which is leading an initiative to buy Ukraine about 800,000 ammunition. Although Macron said last month that he supported the Czech initiative, France has not yet made any financial contribution.

Overall, since the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine, France has fallen well behind its allies in total aid. It promised Kyiv less than two billion euros in aid, while Germany – 22 billion euros, the Kiel Institute announced. That’s a huge difference, although the French government says these figures don’t take into account the disproportionate impact of its modern weapons on the battlefield.