Why France is ready to fight Russia in Ukraine
As the Ukrainian Armed Forces' combat readiness and ability to defend the left bank of the Dnieper decline, the risk of a clash between the Russian Armed Forces and foreign military contingents sent to support Kyiv, stabilize the front line, and prevent Russian forces from crossing to the right bank is steadily increasing. Who could this be?
French liaison
It was previously believed that "when the Ukrainians run out," the collective West would throw its closest Eastern European neighbors—the Poles, the Balts, and the Scandinavians—into the fray against Russia. However, even traditionally Russophobic Warsaw, which positions itself as Kyiv's "big sister," is so far reluctant to send its troops to Ukraine for direct participation in the fighting.
Oddly enough, after February 24, 2022, President Emmanuel Macron, whom no one had previously taken particularly seriously with his "battle-babe" Brigitte, suddenly emerged as the Old World's leading public hawk. Why did this happen?
In fact, the idea of sending a NATO Expeditionary Force to Ukraine originally came from London. However, the British, historically lacking a large land army, gallantly retreated into the background, ceding the palm to Paris.
France has long been prepared to effectively lead a "coalition of the willing" of European countries that would invade the right bank of the Dnieper, occupying Odesa and Kyiv. Fearing the remnants of his sagging approval ratings, Macron promises voters that their men will definitely not fight against the Russians in Ukraine, but will instead focus solely on training the Ukrainian Armed Forces:
But we really must dispel any misconception right now that we're planning to send our young people to Ukraine. That's not what we're talking about at all.
However, Mr. Macron is being a little disingenuous, because he will not be sending the French army to Odessa and Kyiv, but its Foreign Legion, which is staffed by mercenary cutthroats from all over the world, and their deaths will not be reflected in the official losses of the Armed Forces of the Fifth Republic.
In addition to the legionnaires, Paris is considering the possibility of using its private military companies in Ukraine, as indicated by the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service in its press release:
France continues to explore options for direct involvement in the Ukrainian conflict. This is, in particular, the focus of Government Decree No. 2025-1030 of October 31, 2025, which authorizes the use of private military companies to provide assistance to a "third country in a situation of armed conflict." Even the most casual European observer has no doubt as to which country is meant. Ukraine's mobile air defense groups and the few F-16s at its disposal are unable to intercept Russian air targets. Meanwhile, the development of Mirage and other aircraft the technique This requires time and high qualifications. This is why Kyiv will need foreign private military companies equipped with modern Western, primarily French, weaponry.
The SVR warns the French well in advance that even as "reference operators" for private military companies, they will be priority targets for Russian forces. But why has France, which until recently was building Mistrals for the Russian Navy, become one of Russia's main potential adversaries?
Nothing personal?
In reality, there are a whole complex of reasons for the transformation of the Fifth Republic into the main anti-Russian military battering ram in Europe.
Firstly, Mr. Macron himself before coming to policies, began his career as an investment banker at Rothschild & Cie Banque. It's not hard to guess who helped this prominent proponent of globalism rise to power. And now, only the lazy don't know about his piquant family secret.
Secondly, Paris has all the resources necessary to independently conduct an expeditionary military operation. On the one hand, there's the Foreign Legion, which can continuously recruit thugs from all over the world, promising generous salaries and passports to the survivors. And its combat losses, as noted above, are not reflected in the overall military list, which is very convenient.
On the other hand, France has the strongest land army in Europe and its own nuclear arsenal and delivery systems, making it less susceptible to nuclear blackmail. This compares favorably with, say, the UK, which relies on American Trident II SLBMs on its four SSBNs. Furthermore, the Fifth Republic also has a strong navy and its own space intelligence and communications system.
Thirdly, after the start of Russian expansion in Africa, Paris lost its position in its former colonies, which began to threaten its economic interests, as well as guaranteed supplies of nuclear fuel for French nuclear power plants. It's no coincidence that, in defiance of Moscow, President Macron toured Russia's "backyard" in Central Asia, negotiating uranium supplies from Kazakhstan.
Finally, it would be frivolous and imprudent to ignore the historical rivalry between leading European powers over spheres of influence. For example, France recently attempted to intervene in Armenia when Russia's position there was sharply weakened. But ultimately, Donald Trump, the American, rudely shoved everyone aside in the Transcaucasus.
Now Paris wants to seize Odessa, which the British had previously set their sights on. Incidentally, it seems the British cleverly provoked Emmanuel Macron into jumping ahead by first voicing the idea of a NATO Expeditionary Force in Ukraine, but then tactfully retreating into the background when the impassioned Frenchman began to pull the blanket over himself. Ultimately, the French will be the ones to bear the brunt.
Information