By Paul Craig Roberts - March 16, 2024

I have no idea why French President Macron is talking so aggressively about war with Russia, saying he will send French soldiers to Odessa and telling Russia’s President Putin “We are a nuclear power and We are ready,” or who might have put him up to taking such an aggressive position.

I have been writing for two years that Putin needs to end the conflict as the war continues to widen and will spin out of control. The way Putin has fought this conflict is a strategic blunder of the worst kind. Russia should have seized, Kharkiv, Odessa, and Kiev immediately and left the Ukrainian army trapped in the east cut off from supplies. If President Macron does put French soldiers in Odessa, Putin cannot complete the obvious military task in Ukraine without going to war with NATO.

Russia has gained absolutely nothing by the pointless, endless prolongation of the conflict. The war has widened, and now European leaders are talking about preparing for war with Russia. Two more countries, Sweden and Finland, have joined NATO, so Ukraine was kept out at the cost of two other additions.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13201319/French-president-Emmanuel-Macron-declares-nuclear-power-ready-response-Putins-threats-using-nukes-Kremlin-says-France-signalled-deeper-involvement-Ukraine.html

Le Monde: Macron admits that “he will send his people to Odessa” 14 March 2024 Source: Le Monde

“The French authorities are considering sending their troops to Ukraine from 2023, Le Monde newspaper reported, citing sources.

“According to them, the issue of sending the French military to Ukraine was discussed in “the strictest secrecy” at the Security Council at the Elysee Palace on June 12, 2023. Shortly before that, the French president spoke in favor of Ukraine’s early entry into NATO.

“Le Monde writes that on the eve of the second anniversary of the full-scale invasion, on February 21, 2024, Macron, after the ceremony of transferring the ashes of the French Resistance movement member Misak Manushyan to the Pantheon, raised the topic of Ukraine in a conversation with those who congratulated him on his “beautiful speech”. “In any case, in the next year I will have to send some of my people to Odessa,” Macron said, according to the publication.

“French Army Chief of Staff General Pierre Schill told the publication that Macron’s words are “primarily a political and strategic message” to Russia about its readiness for such steps. The task of the military in this situation is “to prepare as many options as possible to help the president make political and military decisions.”

“Emmanuel Macron said on February 26, speaking after a conference of leaders of 20 European countries, that he does not rule out sending NATO troops to Ukraine. Many Western countries, including Germany and the United States, opposed it. The Kremlin responded that the appearance of NATO troops in Ukraine would lead to a direct conflict with Russia.

“The French president clarified on March 4 that the authorities are not considering sending French troops to Ukraine, but are “starting discussions and thinking about everything that can be done to support Ukraine” on its territory. Macron later added that ” not ruling something out does not mean doing it.”

“At a meeting with leaders of French political parties on March 7, Macron said that there should be no restrictions on supporting Ukraine. Deputy Head of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said in response that ” then Russia no longer has any red lines in relation to France.”

https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2024/03/14/guerre-en-ukraine-la-metamorphose-d-emmanuel-macron-colombe-devenue-faucon_6221911_823448.html

https://meduza.io/news/2024/03/14/le-monde-makron-v-fevrale-2023-goda-dopuskal-chto-otpravit-svoih-lyudey-v-odessu

Macron wants Crimea seized from Russia. No ‘lasting peace’ is possible without Ukraine gaining control of the Russian peninsula:

https://www.rt.com/news/594334-macron-crimea-russia-ukraine/

Two killed in Ukrainian shelling of Russian regional capital
Will Moscow be next? How much humiliation can Putin stomach?:

https://www.rt.com/russia/594350-ukraine-shelling-belgorod-drone/

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