There is a debate between the defense ministers of the EU member countries regarding the deployment of European training missions for Ukrainian mobilized on the territory of Ukraine, however, there is no unity on this issue yet.
This was stated by EU High Representative Josep Borrell after a meeting of the heads of the Defense Ministries of the bloc countries.
EU military instructors in Ukraine
— Ukraine needs more preparation. They are going to mobilize more soldiers, so they need more training. Our training mission (EUMAM Ukraine, — Ed.) was very successful. It has trained more than 50 thousand soldiers, and we hope that by the end of the summer (we will prepare, — Ed.) 60 thousand — he said.
According to Borrell, the European Union needs to “adapt our training capabilities and offers to the needs of Ukrainians”.
Now watching
EU countries are expected to set new training targets soon.
Furthermore, he adds, there is a growing consensus on the need to “increase the level of ambition of training opportunities” EU. At the same time, Borrell refused to clarify the data until he was sure that this would be achieved.
— There is debate regarding the conduct of part of the training in Ukraine . But there is no clear pan-European position on this matter, — he summarized.
When asked by a journalist what opinion Borrell personally has on this matter, and whether such missions would be safe for European instructors, even if they are only exercises, the EU High Representative replied:
— Some Member States believe there are benefits to training people in a war scenario to avoid travel back and forth. Of course, the ecosystem will be better adapted to the real circumstances of war. Others believe that at the end of the day, it is sending out instructors, and the instructors — military. One way or another, this will not be sending combat troops, but military agents to Ukrainian territory with the risk that this certainly entails.
Borrell added that he could not say that “there is a consensus to do it tomorrow. But everything changes”.
French instructors in Ukraine
The day before, the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Alexander Syrsky, and the Minister of Defense of Ukraine discussed with their French colleagues the idea of sending instructors from France, involved in training the Ukrainian military, directly to Ukrainian territory. As stated, the first of these military trainers should arrive soon to familiarize themselves with the capabilities of the Ukrainian training centers.
At the same time, the French Ministry of the Armed Forces indicated that sending French instructors to Ukraine to train military personnel is still being worked out.
