More than two years and hundreds of billions of dollars into the war in Ukraine, there's a new push for non-Ukrainian boots on the ground. French President Emmanuel Macron has proposed sending NATO troops into Ukraine in a "non-combat" role to assist in the war with Russia. At least four other European nations---Estonia, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, and Poland---are at least receptive to discussing the idea. This led a spokesman for Macron to tell Newsweek that momentum is 'clearly building' for NATO troops in Ukraine.
The U.S. has dismissed any call for NATO troops on the ground in Ukraine, but critics blame a lack of American leadership on the world stage for allowing the situation in Ukraine to get to this point. "To even be talking about this among NATO countries in Europe really shows the Biden administration has absolutely no strategy when it comes to Ukraine," says Harry Kazianis, director of national security affairs at the Center for National Interest. "They've been saying for the longest time we need to help Ukraine get a victory...well, there's nobody among the elites in Washington, D.C. who can even tell us what victory is in Ukraine, and certainly not Joe Biden."
The idea of sending in NATO troops to Ukraine, even in a supposed "non-combat" role, also risks further escalating tensions with Russia and expanding the war. Russia has repeatedly warned against NATO countries sending in military forces to Ukraine, saying it would consider such a move an "extremely challenging provocation." At the same time, Russia has been sabre rattling over nuclear threats in recent months. Kazianis believes this type of provocation could lead to a very dangerous escalation. "I think (Russia's) ultimate fear is that eventually NATO forces would actually start fighting the war for Ukraine," he tells KTRH. "That would essentially bring Russian and NATO forces into direct conflict, and literally be the start of World War III."
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