Polish FM says NATO troops already in Ukraine
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Radoslaw Sikorski refused to elaborate on the number of troops in Ukraine and the specific countries they came from.
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Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski speaks while meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken on February 26, 2024. (AP)
NATO forces are already in Ukraine, according to Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, who declined to elaborate.
Sikorski expressed at a gathering commemorating Poland's 25th anniversary of NATO membership that "NATO soldiers are already present in Ukraine," thanking leaders from NATO member states who purportedly supplied soldiers to Ukraine but refused to comment on the number of troops and their places of origin.
On Friday, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski stated that the presence of NATO military in Ukraine "was not unthinkable," and praised Macron's intention to send Western troops to Ukraine. Meanwhile, Polish President Andrzej Duda stated that Poland needed to build a big airport to facilitate the transit of NATO soldiers.
Following a Ukraine summit in Paris on February 26, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Western leaders had considered the idea of deploying soldiers to Ukraine, and that while no consensus had been achieved, nothing could be ruled out.
Taking a swing at Macron, Sejourne clarified, "French people will not die for Ukraine. We will not send troops for combat."
A recently leaked German recording indicated that British soldiers were in Kiev assisting Ukrainian troops by firing long-range Storm Shadow missiles.
The leak further detailed how British forces collaborated with Ukraine on deploying Storm Shadow missiles against targets up to 150 miles behind Russian lines.
France and Poland have no authority to speak on behalf of NATO, and the alliance's engagement in the dispute would "erase the path to diplomacy," according to Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto in an interview published on Sunday by the Italian newspaper La Stampa.
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.
US contradictions on sending troops to Ukraine
The United States is endorsing the notion of deploying troops to Ukraine, a concept that its European allies have been deliberating for several weeks, according to European military sources cited by AFP in late February.
The report highlights comments from former NATO official Camille Grand, who observed that the French leader's statement conveyed a "significant political signal." Grand expressed confidence that Macron's remarks aim to reassure Ukraine of Western support, caution Russia about the importance of the situation to Europe, and explain to the public that Europe cannot dismiss the potential for direct conflict.
This report contradicts previous statements made by the US on the matter. Earlier, the White House said that the US will not send soldiers to fight in Ukraine, despite French President Emmanuel Macron's refusal to rule out the deployment of a Western military.
National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson revealed in a statement that "President Biden has been clear that the US will not send troops to fight in Ukraine." Watson added that the US president believes the "path to victory" is the passing of blocked military aid to Ukraine.
Biden has expressed that it is "urgent" that the US pass additional support for Ukraine.
