Long-simmering tensions began to boil over in late February when Macron refused to rule out sending Western troops to fight in Ukraine, vowing to do “whatever it takes to ensure that Russia cannot win this war.” A more cautious Scholz shot back, ruling out the use of ground troops from European countries.
Days later, Macron appeared to respond directly to Scholz. “Europe clearly faces a moment when it will be necessary not to be cowards,” he told an audience in Prague. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius replied that Macron’s comments were “something which does not really help solve the issues we have when it comes to helping Ukraine.”
German officials complain privately that while Macron has talked tough on Ukraine, he has not followed up with nearly as much military support as Germany has provided.
Germany’s Kiel Institute, which compiles national contributions to Ukraine’s war effort, ranks France as a clear laggard with €640 million in military aid compared to Germany, which has provided or promised €17.7 billion.
The French contest those figures, and counter that they give the weapons that really matter. “France has opted for operational efficiency in its military aid to Ukraine: promise what you can deliver, deliver what you can promise,”Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu recently said in a post on X.
Macron this week postponed a long-planned visit to Ukraine amid tensions with allies over his increasingly hawkish rhetoric. On Sunday the Elysée Palace announced the visit will now take place in the “next couple of weeks.”
