Le Monde: France plans to deploy 6,000 troops to Ukraine

France is planning to deploy 6,000 French soldiers to Ukraine following the signing of a peace agreement, French President Emmanuel Macron has told Parliament, Le Monde reports.

According to the newspaper, a closed-door meeting was held at the Élysée Palace on Thursday, attended by Government ministers, senior military officials, the heads of both chambers of Parliament, and leaders of parliamentary factions and political parties.

Participants said Macron outlined confidential details of France’s contribution to security guarantees for Ukraine, highlighting that the troops would not operate on the front line.

Chief of the General Staff Fabien Mandon explained that the forces would not be deterrence or stabilisation troops, but rather “support forces for the Ukrainian army”.

Macron added that foreign troops would be deployed “far from the front” and would be involved in accompanying and training Ukrainian units.

French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu said a separate parliamentary debate on the issue would be held in two to three weeks.