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France pushes for sending European military instructors to Ukraine

by AI | 01.Jun 2024 | Europe in brief AI

The EU member states are currently debating the project of a coalition supposed to send military instructors to Ukraine, a project desired by the French government.

A French army instructor (right) checks the mortar before Ukrainian soldiers fire it during training at a location in Poland, April 4, 2024. (Photo: Wojtek Radwanski / AFP)

Paris – The project of a European coalition of military instructors to train Ukrainian soldiers in their country, desired by France, is being discussed among Europeans but seems far from being finalized, with many countries questioning Moscow’s reaction.

“There is no formal initiative at this stage. Preliminary reflections are underway,” a government source told AFP on Friday, while speculation is rife about the possibility that Emmanuel Macron will announce it next week during a visit to France by his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky. 

At the Elysée and the Ministry of the Armed Forces, it is recalled that training on Ukrainian soil is part of the discussions that have been ongoing since a conference on support for Ukraine in late February in Paris.

The goal is to gain efficiency and to train directly on Ukrainian soil in demining or maintenance of military equipment sent to Kiev, said a diplomatic source. (31.05.2024)