In a seismic shift that has sent shockwaves through the NATO alliance, French President Emmanuel Macron has declared that sending Western ground troops to Ukraine can no longer be ruled out. This bold stance, emerging from a high-stakes meeting of European leaders in Paris, places Paris on a potential collision course with former US President Donald Trump's alarming suggestions that he would encourage Russian aggression against NATO allies.
The emergency summit, convened by Macron, was a direct response to the increasingly dire situation on the Ukrainian frontlines and a growing sense that Western support must be dramatically escalated. While a consensus on deploying troops was not reached, Macron emphasised that all options were now on the table to ensure Russia cannot win its war of aggression.
A Stark Divide in Transatlantic Unity
Macron's hardening position creates a stark contrast with the rhetoric coming from the United States, where Donald Trump continues to dominate the Republican primary race. Trump's recent comment that he would tell Russia to do 'whatever the hell they want' to NATO members who fail on defence spending has triggered profound anxiety across European capitals.
This divergence highlights a fragile moment for the Western alliance. European leaders are now grappling with the twin threats of a resurgent Russia on their eastern flank and the potential return of an American president deeply sceptical of NATO's very existence.
European Leaders Weigh Unprecedented Measures
The meeting in Paris saw leaders from across Europe, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Polish President Andrzej Duda, agree to form a new coalition to supply medium and long-range missiles to Ukraine. This is a significant step, but Macron's comments on troops went much further, signalling a willingness to cross a red line previously observed by the West.
'We will do everything necessary to ensure that Russia cannot win this war,' Macron stated, adding pointedly, 'There is no consensus today to send ground troops in an official, accepted and endorsed manner. But in terms of dynamics, nothing can be ruled out.'
The Shadow of a Trump Presidency Looms Large
Analysts suggest Macron's newfound audacity is partly a strategic calculation for a world where American commitment to Article 5 is no longer guaranteed. With Trump threatening to abandon allies, European powers like France are being forced to consider their own unilateral capabilities to deter Russia and maintain continental security.
This move represents one of the most significant and potentially dangerous developments in the two-year conflict. While the Kremlin has warned that any deployment of NATO troops would inevitably lead to a direct clash between Russia and the alliance, the West appears to be entering a new, more volatile phase of its support for Ukraine.
