The French newspaper admitted shock

The developments surrounding French President Macron's declaration of readiness to send troops to Ukraine are still causing heated debate
The French media is trying to explain the words of the country's president - who announced the possibility of sending an army to help the Kyiv government.

Le Monde newspaper confirmed that military experts from all NATO allied countries have been present in Ukraine since the conflict began.

According to the publication, President Emmanuel Macron "inadvertently lifted the veil" on the presence of representatives of Western countries' intelligence agencies in Ukraine, they cited an anonymous source who wrote that intelligence officers and experts Allied technicians have been working in Kyiv for a long time, but are not directly involved in military operations

"Since the war in Ukraine began, many state actors linked to Western intelligence agencies, often with military status, have been present in the country

Covert intelligence agents, military advisers and experts in special forces have played a role since the start of the war," Le Monde clarified. The newspaper's interlocutor emphasized that the presence of Western experts is necessary to ensure the correct operation of complex military equipment.
The Ukrainian battlefield is used as a testing ground for new technology. Drones are being deployed there. Of course, such experts always closely follow all activities," Le Monde newspaper quoted an anonymous interlocutor.

Not only that, this publication also believes that the presence of the French Army could protect some territories controlled by Kyiv from attacks. Allowing French special forces into Ukraine could be seen as creating a “strategic dilemma” for Russia.

However, the optimism of the journalists of Le Monde publication is considered doubtful, because a small group of French soldiers, although very elite, can hardly change the situation on the battlefield.

Europe admitted that it could not provide 1 million artillery shells to Ukraine in March as promised in the context of facing a serious shortage of production materials.

Earlier this week, French President Emmanuel Macron said: "We are all aware of the need to face the scarcity of certain ingredients, especially gunpowder. Gunpowder is really what we we are lacking
Gunpowder converted into propellant to fire artillery shells is used in many types of ammunition that the West provides aid to Ukraine. Johann Hoecherl, an ammunition expert at the German Armed Forces University in Munich, said: "A simple exploding artillery shell has three parts. It has a steel shell, a high-explosive main explosive and a fuse." detonation is usually set to trigger an explosion upon impact

He added: "The propellant doses are usually separate, because the gunner will take 1, 2 or up to 6 or even 8 depending on the desired range." Propellants are no longer in powder form but are often made into bars or tablets. Jean-Paul Maulny, deputy director of the French Institute for Strategic and International Relations (IRIS), said Europe has very few gunpowder manufacturers.

Mr. Maulny said gunpowder production was the "bottleneck" in efforts to produce artillery shells in Europe. EU internal market commissioner Thierry Breton said that the bloc also faces challenges in finding raw materials for gunpowder.

To make gunpowder, you need a special type of cotton, most of which comes from China." Nitrocellulose, also known as gun cotton, is the main raw material in gunpowder production. According to Mr. Breton, the supply of this type of cotton from China suddenly stopped a few months ago

China and Russia have in recent years strengthened economic cooperation and diplomatic contacts, and their strategic partnership has grown closer since Moscow launched its military campaign in Ukraine.

On January 31, the European Union admitted that it would not achieve its goal of sending 1 million artillery shells to Ukraine by March, but would only achieve half. Speaking after a meeting of EU defense ministers in Brussels, the bloc's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said about 52% of the promised artillery shells would be delivered by March.

The 1 million shell target was set to satisfy Ukraine's need for 155mm artillery shells, which have become a key weapon in the intense war of attrition between Ukraine and Russia.

Western officials seem concerned that Russia's increased production of artillery shells will make efforts to regain Ukrainian territory even more challenging. Ukraine currently depends largely on ammunition donated by the West as its Soviet-era arsenal is dwindling