Mass demonstration in Paris against the supply of weapons and the sending of Western forces to Ukraine

Several thousand people participated in a protest demonstration that took place in the streets of central Paris today, Saturday, against the supply of weapons to Kiev and the sending of forces from Western armies to Ukraine.

The crowds of demonstrators moved from the Royal Palace Square in the historic center of the capital towards the Invalides, passing through the Carrousel Square, located between the Tuileries Garden and the Louvre Museum.

During the demonstration, the demonstrators carried banners reading: “No to World War III!”, “Get out of NATO, get out of the European Union,” “Mothers against the war,” and “Leave our children alone.” The demonstrators also tore down NATO flags.

The leader of the French National Party, Florian Philippeaux, at whose invitation the march is being held, said: “It is unacceptable that France does not seek peace. Paris has no right not to seek a peaceful solution to the Ukrainian conflict, because there is a nuclear power involved in it, and the situation could get out of control in "Any moment."

The politician also spoke against the rhetoric of the European Union and NATO, "which are constantly looking for enemies," and in favor of France's withdrawal from these two organizations.

François, one of the participants in the demonstration, said: “It is unacceptable for us to remain isolated from what is happening. I came here to say that we are against the war, which will be disastrous for everyone.”

French President Emmanuel Macron said on February 26 that at a meeting in Paris, where representatives of about 20 Western countries discussed the issue of further support for Kiev in the conflict with Moscow, the topic of the possible sending of ground forces to Ukraine was raised. According to the French leader, the participants were unable to reach a consensus on this issue, but such a scenario cannot be ruled out in the future. He later updated his statement to clarify that "just because something is not ruled out does not mean it is done."

Last February 26, French President Emmanuel Macron said during a meeting in Paris that about 20 Western countries discussed the issue of providing more support to Ukraine, and the issue of the possibility of sending ground forces from Western countries to Ukraine was raised.

Following Macron's statements, many Western officials confirmed that their country is not seeking to get involved in sending military forces to fight alongside Kiev's forces, and they do not plan to send forces to Ukraine.

Macron added that  sending Western forces to Ukraine in the future should not be “ruled out  ,” noting that there is no consensus on this step currently.

For his part, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described Paris's path of forming a coalition of countries ready to send forces to Ukraine as "extremely dangerous."

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also indicated that he does not support French President Emmanuel Macron’s statement about sending Western forces to Ukraine, and stressed that the intervention of a single NATO country  in  the conflict would affect the entire alliance, whose members are committed to the principle of “collective defense.” ".