On 14 Feb 2024 , Estonia Foreign Minister Margus Tasahkna visted the Polish foreign ministry in Warsaw. He said that Russia has ramped up it's war machine and that NATO has only 3 or 4 years left to strengthen defences against Russian attack. AP news report.
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| APnews 14Feb 2024 - Margus Tsahkna (left) |
On Mon 26 Feb 2024, there was a meeting of European leaders, heads of state and Western officials at the Elysee Palace in Paris. The Politico website says that Prior to that meeting, the Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico referred to a retsricted document (maybe the agenda and associated papers of the meeting he was about to attend?). The document said that matters for discussion included whether Western Countries should send troops to Ukraine on a bilateral basis (ie an agreement which would ONLY be between Ukraine and the particular country). Fico added that this is because the Ukraine war is "not going as expected"
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| Politico 26 Feb 2024 - Robert Fico Slovakia |
AP News (associated Press) is a New York based global news agency. AP News reports that at that Elysee Palace meeting, President Macron of France commented that consideration was being given to sending NATO troops to Ukraine. This has be a sign of dangerous desparation on the part of Western Countries .
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| AP News 27 Feb 2024 - President Macron |
The Visegrad group is a cultural and political alliance of Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, and Slovakia. It's main aim is to strengthen the security and stability of the central Europe area. The leaders met in the Czech capital Prague on Feb 27th 2024. It is worth looking at this group because they epitomise the disunity in Europe as a whole.
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| RadioFreeEurope site shows leaders prior to meeting |
According to the Czech Gov website, the meeting on the 27th Feb was held in the Liechenstein Palace and was to focus on "energy security, the strategic agenda of the EU, the prevention of illegal migration or further support of the International Visegrad Fund (a fund to promote sustainable cooperation in central Europe).
European Pravda - The Russians see all the division between European nations and report that the Visegrad 4 disagreed with each other over Ukraine.
Visegrad insight - Warsaw Poland based news site describes the disunity in the group.
Will NATO send troops?
The short answer is no. It may have been talked about but for now at least , there were many reports of the Nato troops idea being quickly quashed.
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| Al Jazeera - Germany Poland Nato rule out sending troops. |
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| Reuters - US & key allies rule out Nato troops |
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| Russian Tass News - 29th Feb - Russia ready for talks |
Who is winning the war in Ukraine ?
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| APnews Feb 17 - Russia takes Avdiivka |
Joe Bloggs on YouTube says that Russia is facing tough times ahead as it is now a war economy focused on production rather than consumption which is not good for long term growth.