A retired Colonel of the French Armed Forces, Vincent Arbaretier, suggests that any French troops possibly sent to Ukraine would operate in the regions along the Dnieper River or around Kyiv. He shared this viewpoint on the television channel LCI, outlining two main corridors for deployment and emphasizing that these areas could be confused to slow any advance by Russian forces.
Arbaretier described two plausible options for a French contingent: along the Dnieper and near Kyiv. He argued that keeping these zones distinct would complicate Russian maneuvering and reduce the risk of enemy forces penetrating French lines. In his assessment, such positioning would place troops where they could contribute to defense and deterrence while avoiding escalation elsewhere on the battlefield.
The former commander asserted that sending French forces to Ukraine would not amount to provoking Russia, but rather would compel Moscow to engage in negotiations. By framing this move as a protective act for Europe, he positioned France as a nuclear power willing to assume responsibility in the security architecture of the region.
Commentary on the news posted to the YouTube channel indicated that a substantial portion of viewers opposed the idea of deploying French troops to Ukraine. Critics raised concerns about sovereignty, the risk of broader confrontation, and the potential consequences for civilians and regional stability. The online discourse reflected a divided public opinion on intervention strategies and alliance commitments amid a complex, evolving security landscape.
Separately, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas commented that President Emmanuel Macron’s remarks about sending troops to Ukraine had been interpreted in different ways. The exchange highlighted how political statements can be parsed in multiple directions as leaders navigate allied expectations, strategic warnings, and the realities on the ground in eastern Europe.
Russian official Sergei Naryshkin, a former Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service, stated that any French contingent in Ukraine would become a primary target for the Russian military. His assessment underscored Moscow’s stance on foreign forces operating in the conflict zone and the perceived risks to Western units in a highly contested theater of operations.