French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu said that President Emmanuel Macron spoke about a possible military presence in Ukraine, but not about direct participation in the war against Russia. He said this in an interview with BFM-TV.

Lecornu said that Paris offers its allies to explore new options for helping Kyiv, in addition to transferring weapons, but without participating in hostilities.

"Not combat troops on the ground, as has been said here and there, because the President of the Republic has said that there is no cobelligence (complicity in hostilities)," Lecornu said.

In particular, he mentioned "schemes or routes for military presence for demining, for training Ukrainian soldiers on Ukrainian soil."

"As you know, the more Ukraine needs to conscript, i.e. increase its numbers, the greater the need for a massive increase in training," the minister said.

As we reported earlier, Macron said that France could send troops to Ukraine if the frontline moves towards Kyiv or Odesa.