Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Lebanese Ministry of Health: Final toll from airstrike on car in Zebdine, Nabatieh District: Two martyrs, four injured
Egyptian media: Indirect talks between Hamas and Israelis begin in Sharm el-Sheikh.
AFP: France's new PM Sebastein Lecornu resigns just hours after unveiling cabinet.
Trump: Technical teams will meet again on Monday in Egypt to discuss and clarify the final details, and the first phase is scheduled to be completed this week
US President Donald Trump: Talks with Hamas have been very successful and are moving at a rapid pace
Local sources in Aleppo: Violent clashes erupt between the SDF and factions affiliated with the transitional authority on the Deir Hafer and Tishrin Dam fronts in the eastern Aleppo countryside
Israeli media: Interceptor missiles fired in an attempt to shoot down the drone
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded amid suspected "enemy aircraft" infiltrating the Eilat area
Israeli media: "Israel" won the battle but lost the war strategically and politically
Israeli media: Ben Gurion Airport's airspace closed to air traffic following missile launch from Yemen

NATO refused French proposal to send troops to Kiev, US diplomat says

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Politico
  • 4 Mar 2024 18:13
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

A former US envoy to NATO told Politico that the French Army's chief of staff was rejected by "every ally" when he suggested sending a coalition to Ukraine.

  • x
  • NATO refused French suggestion to send troops to Kiev: Politico
    French Barkhane force soldiers in the Sahel leave their base in Gao, Mali in, 2021 (AP)

France proposed sending NATO soldiers to Ukraine to aid Kiev's military with critical jobs, according to an article by former US envoy to NATO, Ivo Daalder. 

Daalder wrote in Politico that the idea came some weeks ago from the French Chief of Staff General Thierry Burkhard, who reached out to half of his NATO colleagues, asking them to "explore the possibility" of sending "a coalition of the willing" to Ukraine's frontlines.

Burkhard suggested the personnel might man ground-based defense systems, train troops, undertake cyber operations, and assist with demining. His proposition was quickly rejected by "every ally," Daalder stated, in accordance with NATO's longtime stance of "no troops on the ground in Ukraine."

Daalder's suggestion was well before French President Emmanuel Macron stirred controversy last week by telling the media that sending NATO troops to Ukraine should not be ruled out.

Macron declared on Monday the formation of a new coalition aimed at providing Ukraine with extended-range missiles and ammunition and emphasized that the possibility of deploying Western ground forces to engage in combat in Ukraine should not be dismissed.

Other NATO members, notably the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, and Germany, responded quickly, stating that they had no such intentions. French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne sought to clarify Macron's remarks, telling public station Radio France Inter last Friday that Paris would not risk endangering its citizens or a direct clash between Russia and NATO.

Related News

White House concerned about unfolding domestic terrorism conspiracy

Von der Leyen faces no-confidence vote for 'surrendering Europe' to US

In his piece, Daalder dubbed Macron's remarks on troop deployment "another headline-grabbing statement" and an effort at gaining geopolitical points, but said the fact that they came after Burkhard's proposal "may have revealed more serious thinking" regarding efforts to assist Ukraine within the alliance.

Regarding Macron's comments, the UN has urged against the use of provocative language concerning the war in Ukraine, the official representative of the organization's Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric, said during a briefing in response to an inquiry about Macron's remarks.

Lavrov says does not think Macron 'misspoke' on forces in Ukraine

During his participation in the third Diplomacy Forum in Antalya, Turkey, attended by representatives from 147 nations, Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, expressed that military personnel from the US, UK, and France are currently stationed in Ukraine, dispelling the notion that only mercenaries from these nations are present.

"Before the coup d’etat [in Ukraine], hundreds of US citizens occupied seats in ministries, just as they now allegedly have their own mercenaries, but in fact, there are military officers there — there are UK and French (officers)," Lavrov adding that "We are well aware of this."

Moreover, Lavrov added that Ukraine already hosts NATO forces. He clarified that French President Emmanuel Macron's mention of the potential deployment of NATO troops to Kiev was not a mistake.

"I don’t think he misspoke," Lavrov said referencing Macron's statement before adding "The very fact that they want to deploy troops has been expressed explicitly, but unofficially, they (NATO) are already there."

The Russian Foreign Minister then underscored that "Ukraine would not be able to use these so-called long-ranged weapons against Russian cities without these instructors," reaffirming, "We all understand this perfectly well."

  • United States
  • Sergey Lavrov
  • Germany
  • Emmanuel Macron
  • Ukraine
  • Nato
  • France
  • Russia
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

Hamas fighters stand in formation ahead of a ceremony to hand over Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, Gaza Strip, Feb. 22, 2025. (AP)

Hamas reviews Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan as PIJ rejects

  • Palestine
  • 30 Sep 2025
Iraq at a crossroads: A new war front?

Iraq at a crossroads: A new war front?

  • West Asia
  • 30 Sep 2025
A Hamas fighter in combat fatigues stands before the ceremony for the handover of Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, February 22, 2025 (AP)

Hamas responds to Trump plan, backs Gaza withdrawal, exchange

  • Politics
  • 3 Oct 2025
Tucker Carlson speaks at a memorial for Charlie Kirk, Sunday, September 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (AP)

Tucker Carlson: Israeli officers gave orders on Iran inside Pentagon

  • Politics
  • 2 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Hezbollah's representative in Iran, Sayyed Abdullah Safieddine, during an interview with Al Mayadeen which aired on October 6, 2025 (Al Mayadeen)
Politics

Tehran never interferes in Hezbollah decisions: Representative in Iran

Smoke billows over the Gaza Strip following an Israeli bombardment, as seen from southern Palestine, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Indirect talks for a ceasefire in Gaza begin in Sharm El-Sheikh: Egypt

Fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) prepare to attend a military parad in Qamishli, northeastern Syria, Tuesday, August 12, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Security forces seal Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh districts

Amsterdam Captain Mohammed Ali Mohiuddin, who took part in the Global Sumud mission to Gaza, talks to Al Mayadeen on October 6, 2025 (Screengrab)
Politics

GSF captain says despite abuse, 'Israel weaker than spider's web'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS