France Signals Readiness to Deploy Troops in Ukraine by 2026
France’s army is preparing for the potential deployment of its forces to Ukraine as early as next year under European security guarantees, the country’s top military officer confirmed.
The Gaze reports this, referring to BFMTV.
General Pierre Schill, Chief of Staff of the French Army, told lawmakers in the National Assembly’s defense committee that France “will be ready to deploy forces, if necessary, in support of Ukraine,” as part of wider European security commitments.
“The year 2026 will be marked by coalitions,” Schill said, referring to Orion 26, a large-scale military exercise that will test France’s coordination with allied and interministerial forces.
According to the general, the army is capable of responding to three simultaneous “alerts,” one of which could include a deployment in Ukraine.
He noted that around 7,000 soldiers are on standby and could be mobilized within 12 hours to five days under France’s national emergency readiness plan. This is complemented by the NATO high-readiness force, a key element of France’s defense posture.
The remarks came a day after General Fabien Mandon, France’s Chief of the Armed Forces, warned that the French military must be ready for a potential confrontation with Russia within the next three to four years.
His predecessor, Thierry Burkhard, had earlier cautioned that Moscow considers France a priority target and is waging a hybrid campaign against it in multiple domains – space, air, sea, and information.
In recent months, French officials have repeatedly underscored their concern over Russia’s expanding threat to Europe. President Emmanuel Macron has called for stronger “policies of obstruction” against Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” and pledged to deliver additional Aster missiles and Mirage aircraft to bolster Ukraine’s defenses.
As The Gaze previously reported, on October 23, France also plans to increase production and procurement of Aster and SCALP-EG missiles in 2026, some of which will be transferred to Ukraine.