Around 1,500 French Foreign Legion soldiers are expected to bolster Ukraine’s frontline defenses. According to military analyst Stephen Bryen, 100 troops from the legion’s 3rd Infantry Regiment are already actively supporting the Ukrainian 54th Independent Mechanized Brigade in Slavyansk.
The claims were made in an article written by Bryen for the Asia Times website over the weekend. Previously, he worked as the Deputy Undersecretary of State during Ronald Reagan’s presidency (1981–1989).
Bryen has warned of a further escalation, emphasizing that there was “no possibility” that the troops could have entered through any country other than Poland. “Will the Russians see this as evidence they are at war both with France and Poland,” asked Bryen.
Continuing, he added: “As Slavyansk is on the frontline, this French image of a soft deployment is turning into a war with Russia directly.”
Both France and Ukraine have refused to comment on the allegations. However, they come at a time when President Emmanuel Macron has become increasingly vocal in his support for Ukraine. Macron declared in February that defeating Russia was imperative for Europe’s future security, and announced that the deployment of Western land forces should not be ruled out.
More recently, Macron told the Economist that Western countries should ask serious questions about deploying their own troops in the event that Russia made a breakthrough and Kyiv requested direct support.
So far, his rhetoric has been met with a cool response by most NATO member states. In February, the White House underlined that it did not intend to send any troops to Ukraine.
Bryen has warned of a further escalation, emphasizing that there was “no possibility” that the troops could have entered through any country other than Poland. “Will the Russians see this as evidence they are at war both with France and Poland,” asked Bryen.
Continuing, he added: “As Slavyansk is on the frontline, this French image of a soft deployment is turning into a war with Russia directly.”
Both France and Ukraine have refused to comment on the allegations. However, they come at a time when President Emmanuel Macron has become increasingly vocal in his support for Ukraine. Macron declared in February that defeating Russia was imperative for Europe’s future security, and announced that the deployment of Western land forces should not be ruled out.
More recently, Macron told the Economist that Western countries should ask serious questions about deploying their own troops in the event that Russia made a breakthrough and Kyiv requested direct support.
So far, his rhetoric has been met with a cool response by most NATO member states. In February, the White House underlined that it did not intend to send any troops to Ukraine.
Source: PAP / Asia Times
