Vladimir Putin has warned that the French president could cause a major escalation of conflict after Emmanuel Macron said that sending troops to fight in Ukraine "could not be ruled out".
Russia said the move would lead to the "inevitability" of a direct war with Nato.
On Monday evening, Macron told 20 European heads of state and senior politicians in Paris that sending Western troops to Ukraine was an option.
Speaking at the conference, he said: "There’s no consensus today to send, in an official manner, troops on the ground. But in terms of options, nothing can be ruled out."
Vladimir Putin has warned that the French president could cause a major escalation of conflict after Emmanuel Macron said that sending troops to fight in Ukraine 'could not be ruled out'
Reuters
Putin’s spokesman responded swiftly with Dmitry Peskov saying: "The very fact of discussing the possibility of sending certain contingents to Ukraine from Nato countries is a very important new element.
"In that case, we would need to talk not about the probability, but about the inevitability [of a direct conflict]."
It appears that Macron’s remarks were strongly rebuffed by other Western countries, including the United States and Britain.
During the meeting, German chancellor Olaf Scholz ruled out any assumption that a Nato or European state would send forces to Ukraine.
Robert Habeck, the German vice-chancellor suggested Macron should instead look to send more weaponry.
"I’m pleased that France is thinking about how to increase its support for Ukraine, but if I could give it a word of advice: supply more weapons," Habeck said.
In contrast, Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to President Zelensky welcomed Macron's comments.
He said the French president "is now demonstrating a deep understanding of the risks posed to Europe by the war in Ukraine."
Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to President Zelensky welcomed Macron's comments
ReutersPoland, Italy, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Jens Stoltenberg, the Nato secretary-general supported Scholz’s stance.
The White House said President Biden "has been clear that the US will not send troops to fight in Ukraine".
A spokesman for Rishi Sunak said: "Beyond the small number of personnel we do have in the country supporting the armed forces of Ukraine, we haven’t got any plans for large-scale deployment."