Emmanuel Macron has turned heads at a hastily organised summit for Ukraine. The French president for the first time evoked the possibility of Western troops to thwart a Russian victory – one option among many. Macron himself acknowledged that opinions vary. In other words, he's very much in the minority.
But with US aid lost in the gridlock of an election year, Europeans – including the UK – are showing a newfound sense of urgency as they watch the Ukrainians run low on manpower and ammunition. We ask how far this continent can go and about public opinion that's solidly behind Ukraine but wary of mission creep.
We also ask whether we're talking about the same Macron who used to pride himself as the leader who can talk to Vladimir Putin. Finally, we examine Russia's reaction. Moscow has always backed Macron's main rival, the far-right’s Marine Le Pen.
Produced by Charles Wente, Guillaume Gougeon and Imen Mellaz.
