French MP: EU peacekeeping plans could lead Europe into war with Russia

French politician Florian Philippot has accused Paris and London of pushing Europe toward a direct military confrontation with Russia, warning that plans linked to a possible peacekeeping deployment to Ukraine could draw the European Union into war.

According to Caliber.Az, the leader of the French right-wing party Les Patriotes, made the remarks in a post on the social media platform X. Philippot argued that discussions surrounding the deployment of French and British troops risk escalating the conflict.

GUERRE ! (cf vidéo ⤵️)

Le 1er ministre hongrois Viktor Orban vient de tout révéler : « Le parlement européen a voté l’envoi d’une force multinationale en Ukraine ! »

« La France et le Royaume-Uni préparent déjà leurs troupes ! »

« Une guerre frappe à notre porte, dans 1 ou 2… pic.twitter.com/JdbdhtpTVQ

— Florian Philippot (@f_philippot) February 27, 2026

“France and the UK are already preparing their troops! In a year or two, a war provoked by the EU will knock on our door: we must stay away from it!” he wrote.

Philippot also referred to statements by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, claiming Orbán had revealed that the European Parliament voted in favor of sending a peacekeeping mission to Ukraine.

The comments came amid reports that British and French airborne forces completed final preparations on February 27 for a potential peacekeeping deployment, conducting exercises aimed at testing rapid-response capabilities for global operations.

More than 600 troops from the United Kingdom’s 16 Air Assault Brigade participated in a simulated airborne assault alongside French soldiers from the 11e Brigade Parachutiste during drills held in Brittany, France. The training operation, known as Exercise Orion, coincided with the fourth anniversary of the war in Ukraine.

The nine-day exercise began on February 24 and involved paratroopers jumping from Royal Air Force and French Air and Space Force transport aircraft, establishing defensive positions and carrying out simulated ambushes and attack scenarios. British Pathfinders and the French Groupe Commando Parachutiste conducted a covert landing at the St Cyr-Coëtquidan training area to neutralise mock enemy air defences and designate a drop zone for follow-on forces.

Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment landed together with two French battlegroups, while Italy’s Brigata Paracadutisti Folgore also took part. Supplies were later delivered by an RAF A400M transport aircraft.

General Renaud Rondet, who oversaw the exercise, said: “This exercise also allows us to test new structures and equipment, particularly in the areas of hybrid communication networks and drone integration. The ability to innovate and adapt quickly is now a key factor in retaining superiority on the battlefield.”

Exercise Orion is scheduled to conclude on March 3.

By Tamilla Hasanova