Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala has firmly stated that "no one in Europe" intends to deploy troops to Ukraine, clarifying the stance of European nations on military involvement in the region.
According to the Czech news agency CTK, referencing Fiala's remarks as reported by European Pravda, this assertion came amidst discussions at the Paris summit focused on aid to Ukraine, where French President Emmanuel Macron had suggested the potential benefit of having soldiers from countries like France on Ukrainian soil, not for combat but for training purposes.
Fiala recounted Macron's proposal but emphasized that the majority of Paris summit participants quickly dismissed the idea of sending troops, agreeing that it would not be a topic for further discussion or consideration. "This is not a topic [for discussion] because the idea is unacceptable for the vast majority of countries," Fiala underscored, making it clear that deploying European troops to Ukraine is off the table.
Addressing inquiries, including whether Czech diplomats had been briefed in advance about the summit's agenda, Fiala chose not to divulge specific details but assured that all necessary information had been provided. He advised against overreacting or causing unnecessary alarm over proposals that have not been put forward in the manner some might interpret.
International Reactions
Most NATO member states, including key nations like Germany, the UK, and the US, have already excluded the possibility of sending their troops to Ukraine.
However, the discussion initiated by Macron received acknowledgment from Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis and support from Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas for the concept of Western military personnel in Ukraine for non-combat roles.
Moscow, however, has expressed vehement opposition to Macron's suggestions, warning that any deployment of Western forces in Ukraine could trigger a direct conflict between Russia and NATO. Macron, for his part, affirmed that his comments regarding the war in Ukraine, including the contentious idea of deploying Western troops, were made with careful consideration, aiming to navigate the complex geopolitical landscape without exacerbating tensions.
