France, UK weigh military support for Ukraine as US commitment wavers

[CRAIG]

FRANCE AND THE UK ARE CONSIDERING SENDING TROOPS TO UKRAINE AS PART OF A EUROPEAN COALITION. FRENCH OFFICIALS SAY ALL OPTIONS REMAIN ON THE TABLE, ESPECIALLY WITH U.S. AID UNDER QUESTION AS PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP PREPARES TO TAKE OFFICE IN JANUARY.

TALKS BETWEEN LONDON AND PARIS HAVE INTENSIFIED, FOCUSING ON THE CREATION OF A EUROPEAN DEFENSE COALITION TO SUPPORT UKRAINE TO COUNTER CONCERNS OVER RISKS OF FURTHER RUSSIANS ADVANCEMENTS..

NATO SAYS RUSSIA’S GROUND FORCES HAVE GROWN SINCE THE WAR BEGAN AND MOSCOW HAS INCREASED AERIAL ATTACKS AND MISSILE LAUNCHES.

IN RESPONSE, THE U.K. HAS ANNOUNCED ITS LARGEST SANCTIONS PACKAGE YET, TARGETING RUSSIA’S SHADOW FLEET OF OIL TANKERS USED TO EVADE WESTERN RESTRICTIONS. BRITISH LEADERS ARE URGING ALLIES TO ENSURE UKRAINE HAS THE RESOURCES TO SUSTAIN ITS DEFENSES THROUGH 2025.

NOW NATO IS PREPARING FOR EMERGENCY TALKS, AND FRANCE SAYS IT MAY PROVIDE LONG-RANGE WEAPONS.

MEANWHILE, FRANCE HAS COMPLETED TRAINING FOR A NEWLY FORMED UKRAINIAN BRIGADE. KNOWN AS THE “ANNE OF KYIV” BRIGADE, THE UNIT—NAMED AFTER A UKRAINIAN PRINCESS WHO BECAME A QUEEN OF FRANCE—HAS UNDERGONE MORE THAN TWO MONTHS OF PREPARATION UNDER FRANCE’S “CHAMPAGNE” TASK FORCE.

THE BRIGADE, WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY INCLUDE 4,500 TROOPS, IS EQUIPPED WITH FRENCH-SUPPLIED LIGHT TANKS, ARTILLERY, AND MISSILE SYSTEMS. THE TRAINING FOCUSED ON BATTLEFIELD TACTICS, COORDINATION, AND THE EFFECTIVE USE OF ADVANCED WEAPONRY, EQUIPPING UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS FOR A RANGE OF COMBAT SCENARIOS.

FOR MORE OF OUR UNBIASED, STRAIGHT FACT REPORTING – BE SURE TO DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP TODAY, OR LOG ON TO SAN.COM.