Send troops to Ukraine if Russia breaks through, argues Macron

EUROPE should consider sending troops to Ukraine if Russia breaks through the front lines, Emmanuel Macron has argued.

The French president committed to backing Volodymyr Zelensky and said nothing could be ruled out because ‘if Russia wins in Ukraine, there will be no security in Europe’.

He said: ‘Who can pretend that Russia will stop there? What security will there be for the other neighbouring countries, Moldova, Romania, Poland, Lithuania and the others?’

In February, Mr Macron echoed similar sentiments when he refused to rule out sending French troops to Ukraine.

Several EU states were quick to reject the suggestion, including Germany where Deputy Chancellor Robert Habeck said there was ‘no chance’ of troops being sent.

But Mr Macron remained committed to his comments and said: ‘If the Russians were to break through the front lines, if there were a Ukrainian request, we would legitimately have to ask ourselves this question’.

Arguing in favour of a new European defence system, Mr Macron told The Economist that the continent could no longer rely on the United States for protection through Nato.

■ THE French president was also hit with a backlash last night after claiming Brexit has made the UK poorer.

United Nations data last month showed Britain was the fourth-biggest exporter in the world – overtaking France and the Netherlands. But Mr Macron told the Economist: ‘Brexit has impoverished the UK. Brexit has done nothing to solve immigration.’

Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith responded: ‘Macron should worry about his own country, which he’s almost run into the ground.’