Macron says how many foreign soldiers will be sent to Ukraine

French President Emmanuel Macron has said that European countries may send a limited military contingent to Ukraine after the situation stabilises. He said this in an interview with Le Parisien on his way to Kiev.

According to Macron, the states that are members of the so-called "coalition of the resolute" are actively working on support measures that will help the Ukrainian army to strengthen its defence capabilities and prepare for possible new threats. Among the possible steps being discussed is the physical presence of foreign military personnel on Ukrainian territory.

Macron specified that discussions on this are being held between the headquarters of France, the UK and Ukraine, with the participation of other allies. He emphasised: this is not about engaging in hostilities, but about creating conditions for long-term security and demonstrating allied support.

We are not talking about numbers. We are talking about a presence that will be a signal of solidarity and support - both in strategic areas and in airspace," the French leader emphasised.

He also added that we might be talking about several thousand troops, but definitely not about large-scale deployment. According to him, Ukraine already has the largest army in Europe with about one million mobilised troops.

The French president believes that the deployment of the European contingent is an important element in the architecture of future security and deterrence of aggression by Moscow. At the same time, he noted that the effectiveness of this initiative will largely depend on the participation of the United States.