Poland’s overseas minister says the presence of NATO forces “is not unthinkable” and that he appreciates the French president for not ruling out that concept.

Radek Sikorski made the commentary throughout a dialogue marking the twenty fifth anniversary of Poland’s accession to NATO within the Polish parliament Friday, and the Foreign Ministry tweeted the feedback later in English.

They mirror a bigger European debate over the best way to assist Ukraine as Russia has gained some momentum on the battlefield and Kyiv is working low on ammunition. The U.S. Congress is withholding help that Ukraine says it critically wants to carry off the Russians, placing extra strain on Europe to reply to the warfare that has shattered peace on the continent.

Last month French President Emmanuel Macron mentioned the opportunity of Western troops being despatched to Ukraine couldn’t be dominated out, a remark that broke a taboo amongst allies and prompted an outcry from different leaders. French officers later sought to make clear Macron’s remarks and tamp down the backlash, whereas insisting on the necessity to ship a transparent sign to Russia that it can not win its warfare in Ukraine.

The Kremlin has warned that if NATO sends fight troops, a direct battle between the alliance and Russia could be inevitable. Russian President Vladimir Putin mentioned such a transfer would danger a worldwide nuclear battle.

Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk was amongst these European leaders who initially dominated out sending troops to Ukraine after Macron’s remarks, saying: “Poland does not plan to send its troops to the territory of Ukraine.” But lower than two weeks later Sikorski struck a distinct tone.

“The presence of #NATO forces in Ukraine is not unthinkable,” he mentioned, based on the Foreign Ministry’s tweet. He mentioned he appreciated Macron’s initiative “because it is about Putin being afraid, not us being afraid of Putin.” Sikorski’s comment is a part of a broader shift to align with Macron’s place, wrote Phillips O’Brien, professor of strategic research on the University of St. Andrews, Scotland.

“The issue of sending European forces to help Ukraine was never one to be dismissed — it was always a possibility,” O’Brien wrote in an electronic mail evaluation despatched to subscribers Saturday. “In fact it has become more of one as the USA has stepped back and withdrawn aid. Europe is now faced with a terrible dilemma — watching Ukraine potentially run out of ammunition, or stepping in and helping Ukraine more directly.” Polish President Andrzej Duda and Tusk will travel to Washington for a gathering on the White House on Tuesday, a go to the Poles hope they’ll use to spur the United States to do extra to assist Ukraine.

Poland is a member of NATO alongside the alliance’s jap flank, with Ukraine throughout its jap border. The nation has been below Russian management up to now, and fears run excessive that if Russia wins in Ukraine, it may subsequent goal different international locations in a area that Moscow views as its sphere of curiosity.