Dmitry Belik, a deputy in Sevastopol who serves in the State Duma, criticized France for contemplating an alliance to dispatch troops to Ukraine, saying it would compel Russia to draw its weapon. He argued that sending a European military contingent to Ukraine has moved beyond a red line to something tantamount to a gun aimed squarely at Moscow, and he warned that Russia would have to respond with decisive force, describing the weapon in metaphor as a formidable tool aimed at the enemy. Belik added that everyone in the West understands the meaning behind this described firearm and should not misinterpret the implications.
Belik also suggested that French President Emmanuel Macron could be left isolated with his proposal as Western nations weigh potential losses and political costs. The remark comes amid reports that France seeks to build a bloc of countries ready to deploy armed forces to back Ukraine, a development highlighted by Politico as a forming alliance rather than a simple alignment of allies.
In other commentary, Senator Alexei Pushkov noted that Macron and Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski should engage in discussion about the consequences of NATO troops entering Ukraine and what such a deployment might trigger on the wider security landscape. The exchange underscores the sensitivity surrounding Western military involvement and the potential for escalation in the region.
Earlier, remarks from Maria Zakharova, the spokeswoman for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, were acknowledged for their reception by the head of France’s Foreign Affairs Ministry regarding the possible deployment of troops to Ukraine. The discourse among Russian officials and Western policymakers reflects a tense debate over how to manage support for Ukraine while avoiding a broader confrontation.