Russia - threadbanned users in OP

the UAF have a large amount of troops at the northern border by Belarus. Say France and a few others were to carry out a 'Special Peace-Keeping Operation' up there, free up a lot of much needed troops to move south

We should be improving our own defence capability. Problem it is going to be more expensive due to demand now.

China is building a large carrier based blue water navy for the future, they plan to exert control & dominance in the north atlantic as well as the pacific

What would Russia actually do in the highly unlikely event that French troops got involved? I don't know if Russia can spare a whole lot of missiles right now to lob across Europe in retaliation.

Obviously there would be no use of nuclear at this point. Maybe if Trump got back in it would be different, as I believe nuking people falls under the heading of "whatever the hell they want".

Said as much when Macron first mentioned it. Its the political effects of the refugee crisis he fears most.

Putin has no issues sending his lambs to the slaughter, would Macron feel the same? It's all very well and good until the first French solider dies.

It's a grand announcement, but has serious ramifications. France can't go triggering article 5 because French soldiers got killed in Ukraine. It's definitely upped the ante but to what end? Wouldn't it be better if France just upped their game like Germany and backed Ukraine to the hilt with arms rather than needing to think about French boots on the ground?

Ok, that's a fair bloody point. Kinda hard to argue there. I never thought about that option.

This war is no longer just about the future of Ukraine it is about west vs 'east' & democracy vs dictatorship. The western democracies weren't as weak as Putin thought but unfortunately they are/were weak enough for him to prevail. Macron is finally catching on, but he is years too late.

There is a high probability that we will see a US dictatorship if Trump wins the next election - a Putin victory makes it far more likely. It's pretty much a guarantee that he will try and be one.

If France do get involved I would imagine it would be to provide air support. They don't have an army that is designed to fight a peer on the ground.

I am just saying what others concluded. The advance was slow because they were going through prepared defense lines. There is nothing back in rear to fall back to so pace may pick up on speed. Recent chaotic withdrawal from Avdeevka is an example of that.

There are no defense lines built and this may result in encirclement of few bigger cities in a way while they push much further inland. This is what is being discussed currently and what prompted Macron to start making bold statements which he cant back in reality anyway. He was hoping that few others will join him in his verbal offensive but others are not having it perhaps with exception of Justin.

There is always a first time

"democracies weren't as weak as Putin thought but unfortunately they are/were weak enough for him to prevail."

How exactly has putin prevailed?

Another three months in Ukraine and the losses in his troops recorded by the Ukrainians may reach the half million mark and the Ukrainians have already recorded the destruction of over 6000 of his tanks and over 10,000 of their artillery systems as well as lots of other parts of what has proved to be a far from well functioning military force. His country faces some of the most rigorous international trade restrictions and has billions of international assets frozen due to their terrorist activities and he has had to murder many of his states military and economic leaders just to feel more secure in his grip on power. The so called elections that are due to be run soon have required any serious voices against the war or his leadership to be banned from running or sent to prison to die from natural causes. Many countries in the world continue to announce new supports for Ukraine's struggle to liberated their country from his military and while there may be small advances in places by putin's forces on the front lines the attrition levels they are continuing to experience makes continued occupation of Ukraine unviable in my opinion. Not a picture of prevailing from what I can see.

Just seen now reports that Ukraine has struck at a military aircraft facility in putin's empire with a new type of drone and Sweden hopes to soon send its Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine to help defend against putin's terrorists.

I'm going to LOL so loud if this turns out to be true

A few twitter heads are reporting an A-50 was destroyed on the ground. Pinch of salt, but see what happens here.

Yes, the Chinese made their play, and were told to sod off, and they off they went.