The statement about sending troops to Ukraine is breaking a taboo, says V. Čmilytė-Nielsen

This is how she commented on French President Emmanuel Macron’s statement that the possibility of sending Western troops to Ukraine in the future is not ruled out.

“I would think that E. Macron’s statement that such an idea is being considered is such a taboo breaking that sends two signals. He is sending a signal to Ukraine that the Western allies are ready to help even more, and he is also sending a signal to Russia that he will not leave Ukraine alone,” V. Čmilytė-Nielsen told “Zinių Radio” on Wednesday.

“These kinds of discussions, these kinds of speeches, if they are backed by action, they are important,” she added.

Minister of National Defense Arvydas Anušauskas said on Tuesday that soldiers of NATO countries could be sent to Ukraine to train Ukrainians, not for combat operations.

“It is about training missions, training components. Training”, said A. Anušauskas.

“No. This is a matter under consideration, but in this case I would not be able to comment on the details (…). That matter is now in the discussion stage, the positions may change (…) We are simply looking for ways to help Ukraine, giving a very clear signal to Russia as well,” he said.

The issue of sending troops was discussed at a meeting of European leaders in Paris as the Russian invasion continued into its third year.

After a meeting of more than 20 European heads of state and government and officials from other Western countries, the French leader said that “we will do everything necessary to prevent Russia from winning the war.”

“Today there is no consensus to send troops on land in an official, approved way. But when it comes to dynamics, nothing can be ruled out,” said E. Macron.

At the time, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz rejected the idea of ​​European countries and NATO sending their troops to Ukraine.

“What we have agreed on between ourselves and with each other from the beginning is also valid in the future, that is, that there will be no troops sent by European or NATO countries on the territory of Ukraine,” O. Scholz told reporters.

Italy has said that international support for Ukraine does not include the presence of Western ground forces, and warned against giving the impression of war with Russia.

Sweden, which is due to join NATO soon, said on Tuesday that it does not currently plan to send ground forces to Ukraine. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said that currently the Ukrainians do not require Western ground forces.

The Kremlin has warned that a confrontation with NATO will be inevitable if the alliance deploys its troops to the conflict, a major step the West has so far avoided.