Macron Urges Ukraine Support

French President Emmanuel Macron urged Ukraine's allies not to be "cowards" in supporting the country to fight off the Russian invasion.

And Macron added that he "fully stood behind" controversial remarks made last week not ruling out sending Western troops to Ukraine, which sent a shockwave around Europe.

"We are surely approaching a moment for Europe in which it will be necessary not to be cowards," Macron said on a visit to the Czech Republic, which is pushing a plan to buy weapons outside Europe for Ukraine.

Speaking later after meeting his Czech opposite number Petr Pavel, he asked: "Is this or is it not our war? Can we look away in the belief that we can let things run their course?"

"I don't believe so, and therefore I called for a strategic surge and I fully stand behind that," Macron said.

Most of Macron's European allies said they would not send troops to Ukraine after his comments on February 26. French officials also insisted any such forces could be sent to back operations such as de-mining rather than fighting Russian forces.

"We want no escalation, we've never been belligerent," Macron said.

Macron was later to meet Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala and address a nuclear forum.

At a security conference in Munich last month, Pavel said the Czech Republic -- an EU and NATO member of 10.8 million people -- could collect a substantial amount of weapons for Ukraine outside Europe.

Prague was looking to amass $1.5 billion to pay for the munitions for Ukraine, which has been battling the Russian invasion for two years.

Macron reiterated that France backed the plan but did not say how much it might contribute. The Netherlands has already pledged to donate 100 million euros.

A French adviser said the Prague visit would be an opportunity to "discuss this initiative" and come up with further specifications.