Russia's “cards” are mixed up: an analysis of the Kremlin’s reaction to the possible deployment of NATO troops to Ukraine

Since Emmanuel Macron's statement about the potential introduction of French troops into Ukraine Almost a month has passed, but the topic is still on the lips among society. The Kremlin even said that France had already begun to train the military.

According to the director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, Sergei Naryshkin, “at the initial stage, the military contingent will be about 2 thousand people.” The head of the Center for Military Legal Studies, Alexander Musienko, analyzed 24 Channel the Kremlin's reaction.

The Kremlin is concerned

According to Musienko, it is absolutely obvious that under certain conditions French troops and others may appear in Ukraine. Various scenarios are being considered. NATO will increase its presence in Romania, in particular France. Accordingly, such information worries and alarms the Kremlin. The same Naryshkin said that the “contingent” will become “a priority legitimate target for attacks by the Russian army.”

They have a hypertrophied reaction. This means that they were scared by the idea. They are concerned because it has generated a lot of discussion and commentary. It seems to me that Putin comments on these things more often than the President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky,” noted the head of the Center for Military Legal Studies. expected such a reaction to the war in Ukraine. Macron attracted attention and raised the topic and question for our state in such a way that now all European media are talking about it. In addition, almost all countries note that Kyiv cannot lose, so it must be supported.

Reality is now taking shape. Our state is not yet a member of NATO and is not covered by Article 5 of the Alliance Treaty, but Ukraine, even at a basic level, has received an understanding from European politicians that it must maintain statehood and will be helped in this.

The rhetoric was repeated

Musienko recalled that in June 2022 Ukraine received HIMARS. Afterwards, Vladimir Putin gave an interview to Russian propagandists, saying that Russia would destroy the air defense system. The Kremlin said the same thing about Patriot: “We’ll crack like nuts.” Subsequently, the Kremlin threatened to strike NATO convoys that would transport weapons to Ukraine.

Then “NATO convoys are a legitimate target,” and today they say the same about the troops. This is very symbolic. We are moving in a straight line: from the supply of weapons to the possible appearance of troops in Ukraine. At the same time, Russia remained in the same positions, said Alexander Musienko.

“”These are legitimate targets, we will strike.” But two years have passed. What are you so strike that Ukraine, on the contrary, is making progress in supporting its partners, but you have no progress?!”, ​​he stated.

Macron may be thinking about sending troops to Ukraine

• On February 25, French President Emmanuel Macron raised the question of the possibility of sending Western troops to Ukraine. At the same time, he emphasized that the Alliance does not yet have a consensus on this issue.
• The French newspaper Le Monde writes that the French authorities are thinking about sending troops to Ukraine at least from 2023. Troops may arrive as early as this summer. One of the key areas, according to journalists, where Macron would like to send troops would be the city of Odessa.
• The French leader also said that if the European Union allows Russia to win the war against Ukraine, trust in the bloc will be “reduced to zero,” in particular on the part of Eastern European countries.