EU Urges Adaptations for Ukraine Training Mission Amid War Concerns

The EU diplomatic service has urged member states to better adapt the military training program for Ukraine to meet Kyiv’s needs but refrained from recommending sending instructors directly to Ukraine. The review discusses logistical, political, and security challenges, suggesting training closer to the border or inside Ukraine under specific conditions.

The European Union's diplomatic service has recommended that member states adapt their military training mission for Ukraine to better align with Kyiv's needs, according to a report by German weekly Welt am Sonntag. However, it stopped short of advising the deployment of EU military instructors to the war-stricken nation.

Despite training around 60,000 Ukrainian soldiers primarily in Poland and Germany since November 2022, the EUMAM mission is set to extend by another two years once its current mandate expires in mid-November. The EU's review emphasized the need to train Ukrainian soldiers using the same equipment they will deploy in combat.

Challenges such as a shortage of Soviet-era equipment and member states' fears of being drawn into the conflict have complicated the training efforts. While the possibility of some training on Ukrainian soil was discussed, concerns about Russia perceiving it as a provocation were raised. The review concluded that deploying EU military personnel in Ukraine is feasible under certain conditions, calling for further analysis of the potential risks and advantages.

(With inputs from agencies.)