This won’t wash – not involving any substantial number. Also, keep in mind that leaks have indicated that ~150 NATO military and intelligence agents are already present. Contractors? Unknown. At any rate: It would take multiple tens-of-thousands operating in rear areas to make a discernible difference, by improving support and freeing-up Ukrainian troops to go forward. Would this provoke RU vs US-NATO war? It would certainly increase the probability. But Putin has other options: Target NATO personnel in Ukraine. Also, an invasion by NATO makes total Russian mobilization politically practicable. All this should be obvious to Macron and Starmer, suggesting that the leak is a desperate gambit, in the shadow of Trump’s ascent, to dampen Putin’s optimism and improve Ukraine’s bargaining position. Ukrainska Pravda, Europe troops to Ukraine?
