The writer for the Washington Post, Léa Hockstader, suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin may respond to French President Emmanuel Macron's decision to send military trainers to Ukraine by launching a military strike against them. The journalist noted, "Putin may see a strike against French military personnel (in Ukraine) as an opportunity to humiliate Macron, who has become one of the most aggressive opponents of Russia among Western leaders." He emphasized that the French president's decision carries significant risks for both his country and the West.
He pointed out that French public opinion is entirely unprepared to welcome the coffins of soldiers killed in Ukraine. Furthermore, it is unlikely that France's NATO allies would risk direct confrontation with Russia even if military trainers are killed.
Earlier, Le Monde reported that the French president is seeking to establish a European coalition to send military trainers to Ukraine. The newspaper stated, "Sending French and European trainers to Ukraine could be a matter of weeks or even days; according to our information, French authorities want to create a coalition of countries willing to train Ukrainian soldiers on Ukrainian territory." The paper added, "The plan is to send dozens of specialists first to assess training needs; the second step is to send several hundred military personnel."
