France calls NATO chief and others to discuss aid to Ukraine, Reuters
Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg (Photo: Vitalii Nosach, RBС-Ukraine)
France invited the foreign and defense ministers of Ukraine's key allies, as well as NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, to discuss assistance to Kyiv, reports Reuters.
"President Emmanuel Macron faced a backlash from many Western allies after he openly discussed the idea of sending Western troops to Ukraine at a Paris-based conference on Ukraine last week," the material says.
Reuters reports that a further conference involving ministers and senior diplomats from approximately 28 countries was planned in Paris, but it was postponed to a video call due to criticism that the meeting was too rushed.
"The debate that followed reflects only partially the reality of the discussion in Paris and should not overshadow our collective determination to support Ukraine," the invitation, which Reuters saw, states.
Who was invited to the meeting
Invitations, sent on behalf of the French ministers of foreign affairs and defense, were also addressed to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell. Neither of them was invited on February 26.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba will also participate in the video call. The invitation mentioned that the meeting would discuss ways to accelerate the delivery and production of artillery ammunition.
Sending Western troops
The statement also mentions that partners want to explore the possibility of providing support through cyber defense, demining, or mine clearance, securing the border with Belarus, and coordinating the production and servicing of equipment in Ukraine.
At the same time, the participants themselves do not want to become parties to the war. Also, the invitation does not mention sending non-combat troops to Ukraine, which, according to French officials, is entirely possible.
Paris summit
Recently, French President Emmanuel Macron gathered about 20 leaders of EU countries. The main topic was further support for Ukraine against the backdrop of Russia's escalation.
In particular, partners agreed to create a long-range weapons coalition for our country. They also discussed the possibility of sending ground troops to Ukraine. This option was not ruled out by President Emmanuel Macron himself.
Later, it became known that the defense and foreign ministers of European countries would hold a meeting in Paris to discuss assistance to Ukraine.
For more details on the meeting, you can read in the material of RBC-Ukraine.
