French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed his stance on not ruling out the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine during a prime-time television interview on Thursday. Macron emphasized that the war in Ukraine posed an existential threat, stating that if Russia were to emerge victoriously, the lives of French people would be profoundly affected as Europe's security would be compromised.

The 30-minute interview, designed to sway public opinion in favor of Macron's strategy of strategic ambiguity, began with reporters from TF1 and France 2 seeking clarification on his previous statements. In February, Macron had caused uproar both domestically and internationally when he refused to dismiss the option of deploying Western ground troops to Ukraine. However, France's top NATO partners, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany, clarified that they would not be committing troops.

In response to calls for clarity, Macron argued that imposing limits on how to respond to Russia's actions would be tantamount to accepting defeat. He advocated for maintaining ambiguity and stated that France would not lead the offensive or take the initiative.

When questioned about his current relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Macron revealed that he had not spoken to him in months. He emphasized that the war should not be treated as a personal matter, stating, "This isn't a novel or a soap opera. As we speak, men and women are dying in Ukraine under President Putin's watch."

Recently, French lawmakers in both houses voted in favor of a security agreement that reaffirmed France's support for Ukraine's NATO bid and pledged financial and military assistance to Kyiv. However, public opinion in France appears to be divided. According to an Odoxa poll, 68 percent of French respondents disagreed with Macron's statements regarding the potential involvement of Western troops in Ukraine.

Erwan Lestrohan, the consulting director of the polling institute, noted that "a majority of the population" expressed concern about escalating tensions and transforming Russia into an adversary. Macron's increasingly hawkish tone on the matter has also strained relations between France and Germany. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has taken a more subdued approach when discussing the conflict, leading to heightened tensions between the two neighboring countries.

As the situation in Ukraine continues to unfold, Macron's strong stance on not ruling out military involvement has generated significant debate both domestically and internationally. The French president's strategic ambiguity approach aims to assert France's position while ensuring the region's security, but it remains to be seen how his stance will resonate with the French public and their allies.