PRAGUE: French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday urged Ukraine’s allies not to be “cowards” in supporting the country to fight off the Russian invasion.
He added that he “fully stood behind” controversial remarks made last week not ruling out the deployment of Western troops to Ukraine, which sent a shockwave around Europe.
“We are surely approaching a moment for Europe in which it will be necessary not to be cowards,” Macron said on a visit to the Czech Republic, which is pushing a plan to buy weapons outside Europe for Ukraine.
Speaking later after meeting his Czech counterpart Petr Pavel, he asked: “Is this or is it not our war? Can we look away in the belief that we can let things run their course?“
“I don’t believe so, and therefore I called for a strategic surge and I fully stand behind that,” Macron said.
Most of Macron’s European allies said they would not send troops to Ukraine after his comments on February 26.
The White House said Tuesday that Ukraine had never sought Western troops.
“President Zelensky isn’t asking for that, he’s just asking for the tools and capabilities. He’s never asked for foreign troops to fight for his country,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters in Washington.
Germany’s defense minister said Macron’s quotes were not helpful.
“We don’t need really, from my perspective at least, discussions about boots on the ground or having more courage or less courage,” Boris Pistorius said at a press conference in Stockholm after meeting with his Swedish counterpart Pal Jonson.
“This is something which does not really help solve the issues we have when it comes to helping Ukraine,” he added.
French officials have said that Western forces could be sent to back operations such as de-mining rather than fighting Russian forces.
“We want no escalation, we’ve never been belligerent,” Macron said Tuesday.
Pavel, a former NATO general, agreed that Ukraine’s allies should seek “new ways” to help, adding that the West would not cross “the imaginary red line” by getting involved in combat operations.
He suggested NATO countries could for instance train Ukrainian soldiers in Ukraine, which would be “no violation of international rules.”
The presidents also commented on Prague’s plan to collect money to buy ammunition for Ukraine outside Europe, first presented by Pavel at a security conference in Munich last month.
Around 15 nations have voiced support for the plan to buy 500,000 rounds of 155-millimeter ammunition and 300,000 122-millimeter shells worth about $1.5 billion.
Macron reiterated Tuesday that France backed the plan but did not say how much it might contribute. The Netherlands has already pledged to donate 100 million euros ($108.5 million).
Paris has so far tended to funnel defense spending into its domestic industry, and favored European weapons production for EU money.
Macron did throw his weight behind using revenues from frozen Russian assets in Europe to fund Ukraine’s defense, estimating them at 3-5 billion euros ($3.25-$5.4 billion) per year, but said the capital should remain untouched.
“We are not in favor of doing things forbidden in international law and opening a debate that I believe would weaken Europe,” he said.
Macron and Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala signed a bilateral cooperation plan for 2024-2028, hailed by the French leader as a “foundation for long-term industrial and strategic partnership.”
Macron also addressed a nuclear forum in the Czech capital, attended by several French energy companies including the power giant EDF, nuclear fuel distributor Orano and nuclear reactor producer Framatome.
EDF and South Korea’s KHNP are in contention for the Czech Republic’s multibillion-euro tender to build up to four new units at its Temelin and Dukovany nuclear power stations.
Macron said EDF’s bid, to be submitted in April, had the “full support of France.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Orano signed a deal with the Czech state-run power group CEZ to enrich uranium for the Dukovany plant, replacing Russia’s TVEL in this capacity.
Macron urges Ukraine’s allies not to be ‘cowards’
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Macron urges Ukraine’s allies not to be ‘cowards’
- Most of Macron’s European allies said they would not send troops to Ukraine after his comments on February 26
Immigration agents draw guns, arrest activists following them in Minneapolis
MINNEAPOLIS: Immigration officers with guns drawn arrested some activists who were trailing their vehicles on Tuesday in Minneapolis, a sign that tensions have not eased since the departure last week of a high-profile commander.
At least one person who had an anti-ICE message on clothing was handcuffed while face-down on the ground. An Associated Press photographer witnessed the arrests.
Meanwhile, Tuesday was the deadline for the Minnesota governor, state attorney general and the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul to produce documents to a federal grand jury in response to a Justice Department request for records of any effort to stifle the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. Officials have denounced it as a bullying tactic.
Federal agents in the Twin Cities lately have been conducting more targeted immigration arrests at homes and neighborhoods, rather than staging in parking lots. The convoys have been harder to find and less aggressive. Alerts in activist group chats have been more about sightings than immigration-related detainments.
Several cars followed officers through south Minneapolis after there were reports of them knocking at homes. Officers stopped their vehicles and ordered activists to come out of a car at gunpoint. Agents told reporters at the scene to stay back and threatened to use pepper spray.
There was no immediate response to a request for comment from the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
A federal judge last month put limits on how officers treat motorists who are following them but not obstructing their operations. Safely following agents “at an appropriate distance does not, by itself, create reasonable suspicion to justify a vehicle stop,” the judge said. An appeals court, however, set the order aside.
Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino, who was leading an immigration crackdown in Minneapolis and other big US cities, left town last week, shortly after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, the second local killing of a US citizen in January.
Trump administration border czar Tom Homan was dispatched to Minnesota instead. He warned that protesters could face consequences if they interfere with officers.
Grand jury seeks communications, records
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s office said it was complying with a grand jury subpoena requesting documents about the city’s response to Operation Metro Surge, but it released no other details.
“We have done nothing wrong and have nothing to hide, but when the federal government weaponizes the criminal justice system against political opponents, it’s important to stand up and fight back,” spokesperson Ally Peters said.
Other state and local offices run by Democrats were given similar requests. People familiar with the matter have told the AP that the subpoenas are related to an investigation into whether Minnesota officials obstructed enforcement through public statements.
No bond for man in Omar incident
Elsewhere, a man charged with squirting apple cider vinegar on Democratic US Rep. Ilhan Omar will remain in jail. US Magistrate Judge David Schultz granted a federal prosecutor’s request to deny bond to Anthony Kazmierczak.
“We simply cannot have protesters and people — whatever side of the aisle they’re on — running up to representatives who are conducting official business, and holding town halls, and assaulting them,” Assistant US Attorney Benjamin Bejar said Tuesday.
Defense attorney John Fossum said the vinegar posed a low risk to Omar. He said Kazmierczak’s health problems weren’t being properly addressed in jail and that his release would be appropriate.
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Raza reported from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. AP reporters Ed White in Detroit and Hannah Fingerhut in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed.
