French opposition hammers Macron for floating Western troops to Ukraine

But his words have sparked a backlash from far-right and far-left party leaders alike.

“I don't know if anyone realizes the seriousness of such a statement,” said Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally. “Emmanuel Macron plays the war leader, but it is the lives of our children that he speaks about with such carelessness. It is peace or war in our country that is at stake.”

Far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon said sending troops to Ukraine would “make us belligerents.”

"War against Russia would be madness," he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "This belligerent verbal escalation by one nuclear power against another major nuclear power is already an irresponsible act. Parliament must be informed and say no. No war! It is high time to negotiate peace in Ukraine with mutual security clauses!"

While Le Pen has tried to distance herself from Russian President Vladimir Putin since his full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, her party has a long history of ties to Russia, including through loans made by Russian banks. Mélenchon also made pro-Russian comments before Moscow started its all-out war on Ukraine. His party, France Unbowed, advocates for France to leave NATO. 

Macron said EU leaders gathered in Paris discussed the topic of Western troops on the ground in Ukraine in a "very free and direct" manner, adding that "everything is possible, if it is useful."

Laura Kayali contributed to this report.