Overview
- Speaking to RTL from Johannesburg, Emmanuel Macron said France will not send newly enrolled volunteers to fight in Ukraine.
- He is expected to unveil the voluntary service on Thursday, and the government has not yet published final terms.
- Reported parameters include an initial intake of about 2,000, scaling to roughly 50,000 volunteers annually, with around 10 months of service and modest pay.
- Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin defended General Fabien Mandon after his stark warning about potential conflict with Russia, and Macron rejected calls to dismiss him.
- France ended conscription in 1997 and is seeking to reinforce the army–nation link and grow forces toward roughly 210,000 active personnel and 80,000 reservists by 2030.