French journalist Maria Oleksa is convinced that Emmanuel Macron recognizes that France must accelerate its strategic thinking and decision-making on Ukraine.

She said this in the Espresso TV show.

"This is a security idea because Macron himself has said this, France is 6–12 months late in its strategic thinking and decision-making, he also said after his meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, after the international conference on Ukraine that took place at the Elysee Palace, that we all said: No tanks, no long-range weapons, no air defense, we always set these red lines, but we, the Europeans, were the only ones who set these lines, russia did not escalate with its European partners in any way directly after the European partners crossed these red lines one by one," the journalist says.

She recalled that in February-March 2022, the assistance began with helmets and sleeping bags, and now France is transferring air defense systems and SCALP missiles:  "So Macron has learned from his own experience, and he thinks in terms of security and knows that in 6–12 months it may be too late to start talking about sending troops, it needs to be done now."

At the same time, there is a political component to the French president's actions.

"It is very important not to forget that Macron personifies this European leader, he wants to be one, he believes, legally or illegally, that he is the one who is leading this European initiative to help Ukraine, while Olaf Scholz is disappointing more and more. Although in terms of numbers, Germany seems to be winning a little bit over France, but maybe not in strategic decisions at a time when the United States has completely deflated and Macron is taking over and it is important for him to be this visionary who may lead Ukraine to victory and he will be able to put this on his record in 2027, when he will no longer be able to run for office," the journalist believes.

Oleksa reminded that 68% of French people disagreed with the president's position, as did the opposition and European partners.

"However, he continued to pull this line, and the latest example was last Saturday's interview in a daily newspaper, where he even used the phrase "ground operations" and said that France would never initiate such an approach or such operations or sending troops. However, he does not want to reject any scenario, and therefore, just a week ago, Macron returned to this topic again, despite the fact that several of his ministers have already explained to the population the fact that first of all, we are talking about non-combat missions, we are talking about demining and so on, but the president, it is clear that this line is still being pushed," the editor concluded.

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