No, France did not deploy troops to fight with Ukraine against Russia
CLAIM: France sent troops to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war.
AP’S ASSESSMENT: False. The French Foreign Ministry said in a statement on X that France has not deployed troops to Ukraine, calling the claim “disinformation.” Reports of the deployment cited a May 3 blog post by Stephen Bryen, a deputy undersecretary for the Department of Defense during the Reagan administration.
THE FACTS: Social media users are pointing to the blog post as proof that French troops have been sent to fight Russia alongside Ukraine as the war continues in its third year.
“France has sent its first troops officially to Ukraine,” the blog post reads. “They have been deployed in support of the Ukrainian 54th Independent Mechanized Brigade in Slavyansk. The French soldiers are drawn from France’s 3rd Infantry Regiment, which is one of the main elements of France’s Foreign Legion (Légion étrangère).”
Related articles
Arsenal needs a favor from Tottenham in the title race. Current form suggests it won't happen
Four straight losses. The team’s worst run of results for 20 years. Two clean sheets since the end o2024-05-07Do cheese and onions belong in a hot cross bun?
Yarrow's Cheese and Onion Hot Cross Buns. Photo: Supplied2024-05-07AUKUS a military pact designed to contain China, says Labour
Labour Party associate foreign affairs spokesperson Phil Twyford is questioning New Zealand's plans2024-05-07- Australian and New Zealand prime ministers Anthony Albanese and Christopher Luxon meet in Sydney, 202024-05-07
DR MAX PEMBERTON: We need more female doctors in the NHS... but there is a downside
Does the sex of your doctor matter? In general, I'd say it shouldn't really make a difference, altho2024-05-07Sinead O'Connor died of natural causes, London coroner says
Artists around the world reacted to the announcement of Sinead O"Connor's death last year. Photo: AF2024-05-07
atest comment