Western troop deployment to Ukraine possible in long term: Norway FM
3 Min Read
The top diplomat clarified that discussions among NATO member states weren't primarily focused on deploying troops in Ukraine for direct confrontation with Russia, but instead to send military instructors and advisers.
-
Norwegian counterpart Espen Barth Eide speaks during a joint press conference with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, at the Foreign Ministry in Berlin, Thursday, March 14, 2024. (AP)
On Friday, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide suggested that the possibility of deploying Western troops to Ukraine should not be dismissed in the long run.
"We have no current plans to send troops. I don't think many countries have. But on the other hand, in the very long run, I don't think we should rule out anything in principle. NATO wants to support Ukraine to the level that Ukraine succeeds, which means Russia fails. But there is no desire to be a direct party to the war because that could lead to a world war which we don't want to see," Eide said in an interview with the Ukrainian newspaper European Pravda.
The top diplomat clarified that discussions among NATO member states weren't primarily focused on deploying troops in Ukraine for direct confrontation with Russia. Instead, the emphasis was on sending military instructors and advisers.
Read more: Russia not seeking conflict with NATO: Deputy FM
On February 26, on the sidelines of a conference on Ukraine hosted in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Western leaders debated the option of deploying troops to Ukraine.
Although no unanimous agreement was reached on this matter, Macron said that no options were off the table. Some EU nations promptly rejected such a proposal.
In response to Macron's address, the Kremlin said that Russia must remain vigilant, as the current generation of European leaders lacks an instinct of self-preservation.
On March 10, Poland's Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said that NATO troops were already stationed in Ukraine, but declined to provide further details.
On March 16, Russia's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Dmitry Polyansky said that the presence of foreign troops in Ukraine was an 'open secret' that was dubbed a fact before the Polish Foreign Minister made his revelation.
"It's an open secret that Western military personnel are present in Ukraine. We know not only through the Polish foreign minister but other sources," Polyansky told Sputnik.
He further made reference to leaks of a conversation between German military senior officers, saying it is a "much louder revelation" than what the Polish minister said.
Read more: Stoltenberg says NATO must keep Ukraine's membership process simple
The leaked recordings indicated that British soldiers were already in Kiev assisting Ukrainian troops by firing long-range Storm Shadow missiles.
The leak also detailed how British forces collaborated with Ukraine on deploying Storm Shadow missiles against targets up to 150 miles behind Russian lines.
On March 22, NATO Military Committee Chair Adm. Rob Bauer said that the alliance is prepared for a conflict with Russia.
