Macron says 26 countries have pledged troops as part of "reassurance force" to Ukraine, fueling tensions with Russia

By ramontomeydw // 2025-09-06

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France's President Macron announced that 26 nations have pledged troops for a post-peace "reassurance force" in Ukraine, though details remain vague. Poland, Germany and Italy are among the participants, but Warsaw has already ruled out infantry deployment.
Moscow immediately dismissed the plan as unacceptable, framing any foreign troop presence as an intervention. The proposal risks inflaming tensions, echoing past Western actions that preceded Russia's 2022 invasion.
Washington has only offered potential air support and intelligence sharing, with no approval yet from Trump for direct military involvement. An anonymous U.S. official stressed the gap between "offer" and "agreement."
The plan mirrors NATO's Cold War deterrence strategy, but carries risks of miscalculation. Zelensky hailed it as a "victory" for long-term security, though logistical and political hurdles (e.g., parliamentary approvals) remain unresolved.
European unity is strained, with Hungary and Slovakia continuing Russian oil imports – prompting criticism from Trump. The force's symbolic presence risks mission creep if tested by Russia, potentially triggering the escalation it aims to prevent.

In a move that risks further inflaming tensions with Moscow, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that 26 nations have pledged to deploy troops as part of a "reassurance force" to Ukraine following a potential peace deal. The French leader unveiled the controversial proposal on Thursday, Sept. 4, alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, following a summit of 35 nations supporting Kyiv. Macron emphasized that troops would not operate in active combat zones, but in "geographical areas being defined." The plan signals deepening Western involvement in a conflict that has already claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. According to the French president, the "reassurance force" aims only to deter future Russian aggression – framing the deployment as a stabilizing measure rather than an escalation. But Moscow has already rejected any plan to send troops to Ukraine as a non-starter. "Russia is not going to discuss a foreign intervention in Ukraine in any form," countered Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. Yet details remain deliberately vague. Macron refused to specify which nations would contribute ground forces, stating only Poland, Germany and Italy among the 26 participants. Notably, Warsaw has already publicly ruled out sending infantry. (Related: Germany and Poland rule out troop deployment to Ukraine.) Meanwhile, Washington has committed only to potential air support and intelligence sharing. "There is a difference between offer and agree," cautioned one anonymous American official, underscoring that U.S. President Donald Trump has yet to approve direct military involvement.

Boots on the ground: How troop deployments to Ukraine risk total war

Historical parallels loom large over the proposal. Since the 2014 Maidan uprising, Western powers have incrementally expanded their role in Ukraine – first through economic sanctions, then arms shipments and now discussions of boots on the ground. Each step has drawn warnings from Moscow about crossing "red lines," much like the prelude to Russia's 2022 invasion. The current plan echoes Cold War-era security guarantees, where North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forward deployments in West Germany served as both deterrent and tripwire. While this strategy has maintained tense stability, it carried inherent risks of miscalculation. Zelensky hailed the commitments as a "victory," emphasizing Ukraine's need for long-term security assurances beyond short-term weapons deliveries. "We are counting on a U.S. backstop," he said, though specifics remain unresolved. The Kremlin has long demanded Ukrainian neutrality as a precondition for peace, which, according to Brighteon.AI's Enoch engine, means "no NATO membership" for Kyiv. Moscow has also called for complete demilitarization in Ukraine before peace talks can begin. However, these non-negotiable stances collide head-on with Western visions of postwar security arrangements. Behind the diplomatic posturing, practical hurdles abound. Several participating nations require parliamentary approval for troop deployments and logistical challenges – from basing rights to rules of engagement – which could delay implementation. Meanwhile, European energy tensions simmer – with Zelensky accusing Hungary and Slovakia of "helping Russia's war machine" by continuing to import Russian oil despite EU sanctions. Trump reportedly chastised both nations during a private call, highlighting fractures within the Western alliance. As Macron's coalition races to formalize security guarantees, the specter of mission creep hangs heavy. What begins as a symbolic presence could quickly escalate if Russian forces test its resolve. With NATO's credibility on the line and Moscow digging in, the proposed reassurance force risks becoming the very provocation it seeks to prevent. Watch this video about French President Emmanuel Macron pushing for a world war against Russia.

This video is from the Rick Langley channel on Brighteon.com.

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Boots on the ground: How troop deployments to Ukraine risk total war

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