Randahl FinkMay 5, 2024

Warning: Likely disinformation.

France is in the process of deploying its first 1,500 combat soldiers to Ukraine, writes Stephen Bryan for Asian Times.

Caution: I have not seen any official confirmation of this development, and no other media has this story. But it is consistent with earlier reports of the preparation of French soldiers, and Macron’s latest statements about “not ruling out” the use of French troops in Ukraine.

https://asiatimes.com/2024/05/france-sends-combat-troops-to-ukraine-battlefront/

France sends combat troops to Ukraine battlefront

France has sent its first troops officially to Ukraine. They have been deployed in support of the Ukrainian 54th Independent Mechanized Brigade in

Asia Times
Show threadRandahl FinkMay 5, 2024

Update: I have now found several sources which state, Asia Times nowadays publish unedited, speculative, or contradictory stories, some even Russia leaning.

Also, it has been 24 hours since publication, and at this point this story would be all over the news, if it could be confirmed.

Likely not true.

@[email protected] @anderspuck

Show threadRandahl FinkMay 5, 2024

Update 2: Now conspiracy nutcase Alex Jones is running with this story, as are several anonymous accounts — a real red flag.

Very likely a false story.

Show threadRalph058 (S/he/it) AF4EZ
@randahl Like Trump, if Alex Jones is saying it, the safest assumption is that it is false.
May 5, 2024 at 9:41pmWeb
Show threadRandahl FinkMay 5, 2024
@Ralph058 I wonder what the purpose is. This story is being pushed hard.
Show threadRalph058 (S/he/it) AF4EZMay 5, 2024
@randahl Jones is pro-Russian. I'm sure Russia is going to use it as an excuse to attack and kill "French Foreign Legion" soldiers with Slovic ancestry.
Putin keeps saying that France is going to send thousands of troops.
Macron refuses to rule out sending them.
I am not entirely sure that Macron isn't trolling Putin, but Macron says a Russian victory is a threat to peace in Europe. (Which, of course, it is)