Sikorski: Presence of NATO troops in Ukraine 'not unthinkable'

(Patria) - Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski says the presence of NATO forces in Ukraine is "not unthinkable" and that he appreciates the French president for not dismissing the idea, AP reported.

Sikorski made the remarks during a debate marking the 25th anniversary of Poland's accession to NATO on Friday in the Polish parliament, and the Foreign Ministry later published the comments in English.

Last month, French President Emmanuel Macron said the possibility of sending Western troops to Ukraine could not be ruled out, a comment that broke a taboo among allies and drew backlash from other leaders. French officials later tried to clarify Macron's remarks and temper the reaction, while insisting on the need to send a clear signal to Russia that it cannot win the war in Ukraine.

The Kremlin warned that if NATO sends combat troops, a direct conflict between the alliance and Russia would be inevitable. President Vladimir Putin said such a move would risk a global nuclear conflict.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk was among those European leaders who initially rejected sending troops to Ukraine after Macron's statement, saying: "Poland does not plan to send its troops to the territory of Ukraine."

But less than two weeks later, Sikorski struck a different tone. "The presence of NATO forces in Ukraine is not unthinkable," he said, according to a tweet from the Foreign Ministry. He said he appreciates Macron's initiative "because it is about Putin being afraid, not us being afraid of Putin."

Polish President Andrzej Duda and Tusk will travel to Washington on Tuesday for a meeting at the White House, a visit that Poles hope they can use to urge the United States to do more to help Ukraine.