The Kremlin confirmed today, Monday, that "the nuclear exercises ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin are a response to Western statements, including those made by French President Emmanuel Macron, regarding the possibility of sending 'NATO soldiers' to Ukraine."
Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that "the statements in question were made by Mr. Macron and British officials... and a U.S. senator, if I am not mistaken." Peskov mentioned that these individuals "talked about the readiness and even the intention to send armed battalions to Ukraine, essentially putting NATO soldiers face-to-face with the Russian army."
He also regarded this as "a new wave of escalation," denouncing Macron's "extremely dangerous rhetoric." Macron had reiterated earlier this month his position of not excluding the deployment of Western forces to Ukraine if Russia "crosses the frontline." He added that "excluding that from now means we have not learned the lessons from the past two years," referring to the initial reluctance of NATO countries to send tanks and fighter jets to Ukraine following Russia's invasion in February 2022 before changing their stance.
Macron ignited controversy at the end of February when he affirmed that sending Western armed forces to Ukrainian territory should not be "ruled out" in the future.
