Status: 10/14/2022 1:28 p.m
Ambassadors of EU member states approved a training mission for Ukrainian soldiers. The training is scheduled to last two years and will take place in Germany, among other places.
The EU states have agreed on a training mission for the Ukrainian armed forces. According to information from ARD Studios Brussels The Committee of Permanent Representatives of the 27 member states unanimously approved plans to train around 18,000 soldiers. The EU foreign ministers still have to formally decide on the mission in the coming week.
Training also in Germany
The EU mission is initially planned for two years. For example, it is intended to train snipers and impart skills in areas such as mine clearance and medical services. To minimize the risk of Russia attacking the training mission, training is not organized in Ukraine, but in countries such as Poland and Germany.
Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said on the sidelines of a NATO meeting in Brussels on Thursday that Germany would make a significant contribution to the mission. According to information from EU circles, the Bundeswehr is to train up to 5,000 Ukrainian soldiers in the next few months.
So far only on a national basis
In view of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell discussed a new training program for the Ukrainian armed forces in August. Several EU states are already training Ukrainian soldiers on the basis of national agreements.
Germany has recently been particularly involved in the areas of air defense and artillery. In addition, a proposal was drawn up together with the Netherlands on how mine countermeasures training could be strengthened.