Berlin: The European Union’s diplomatic service has urged member states to tailor their military training mission to better align with Ukraine’s needs but has not recommended sending military instructors directly to the war-torn country, according to a report by German weekly Welt am Sonntag published on Saturday.
The EU Military Assistance Mission (EUMAM), which commenced in November 2022, has trained approximately 60,000 Ukrainian troops primarily in Poland and Germany. This mission is slated for a two-year extension upon the completion of its current mandate in mid-November.
The review, cited in the report, emphasized the necessity of training Ukrainian soldiers on equipment they will use in combat, stating, “It is imperative to train AFU (Ukraine) soldiers on the same equipment that they will use later in combat.” EU defense ministers are expected to discuss this issue next week.
While the EU has not provided an immediate comment on the review, which has also been reviewed by the international news agency Reuters, the document noted challenges such as a shortage of Soviet-style equipment in the current training programs.
Kyiv’s request in May for training to be conducted on Ukrainian soil has led to a divided response among EU member states. Some members express concerns about potential escalation of the conflict and doubt Kyiv’s capacity to safeguard training sites against Russian attacks due to its limited air defenses.
The review suggests that Kyiv’s request might be addressed by considering the deployment of some EUMAM instructors to Ukrainian training facilities in a “discrete form,” potentially in the western part of the country, but does not recommend sending them directly.
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“It is highly likely that an EU military presence on Ukrainian soil would be perceived by Russia as a provocation,” the review stated. It also highlighted that Russia’s ability to reach any location in Ukraine with ballistic and drone assets poses a significant threat to deployed EU personnel.
The review also noted the logistical challenges of evacuating EU troops in emergencies and the difficulties in providing fortified housing and training sites. Some protective measures, such as those against long-range air threats, are deemed unattainable.
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The document concluded, “Should the necessary political and operational conditions be met, the deployment of EU military personnel on Ukrainian soil is feasible,” though it recommended further analysis to fully evaluate the risks and benefits.
In the meantime, the review advocates for the establishment of an EU coordination cell in Kyiv and exploring training options closer to Ukraine’s borders, along with increasing the number of Ukrainian instructors.
