France is preparing to deploy a military contingent to Ukraine in 2026, according to General Pierre Schill, Chief of Staff of the French Army, as reported by BFM TV.

The general said Paris is considering sending troops as part of «security guarantees for Ukraine» and emphasized that French forces are ready to operate alongside allied armies if circumstances demand it.

Schill described 2026 as a «year of coalitions," noting that large-scale Orion 26 exercises will serve as a test of coordination among allied forces. He added that the French military is training for three potential crisis scenarios — one of which includes possible participation in an operation on Ukrainian territory.

Earlier, Chief of the French Armed Forces General Staff Fabien Mandon stated that France must be ready for a potential armed confrontation within the next three to four years, citing what he called a growing «Russian threat.»