I have been writing for two years that Putin needs to end the conflict as the war continues to widen and will spin out of control. The way Putin has fought this conflict is a strategic blunder of the worst kind. Russia should have seized, Kharkiv, Odessa, and Kiev immediately and left the Ukrainian army trapped in the east cut off from supplies. If President Macron does put French soldiers in Odessa, Putin cannot complete the obvious military task in Ukraine without going to war with NATO.

Russia has gained absolutely nothing by the pointless, endless prolongation of the conflict. The war has widened, and now European leaders are talking about preparing for war with Russia. Two more countries, Sweden and Finland, have joined NATO, so Ukraine was kept out at the cost of two other additions.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13201319/French-president-Emmanuel-Macron-declares-nuclear-power-ready-response-Putins-threats-using-nukes-Kremlin-says-France-signalled-deeper-involvement-Ukraine.html

Le Monde: Macron admits that "he will send his people to Odessa" 14 March 2024 Source: Le Monde

"The French authorities are considering sending their troops to Ukraine from 2023, Le Monde newspaper reported, citing sources.

"According to them, the issue of sending the French military to Ukraine was discussed in "the strictest secrecy" at the Security Council at the Elysee Palace on June 12, 2023. Shortly before that, the French president spoke in favor of Ukraine's early entry into NATO.

"Le Monde writes that on the eve of the second anniversary of the full-scale invasion, on February 21, 2024, Macron, after the ceremony of transferring the ashes of the French Resistance movement member Misak Manushyan to the Pantheon, raised the topic of Ukraine in a conversation with those who congratulated him on his "beautiful speech". "In any case, in the next year I will have to send some of my people to Odessa," Macron said, according to the publication.