Borrell proposes to train another 10 thousand Ukrainian military by the end of the year

The European Union is to train another 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers by the end of the year as part of a training mission initially designed for 30,000 soldiers, European diplomat Josep Borrell said.

"25 thousand soldiers have already been trained. The mission will reach its goal of 30 thousand soldiers by the end of October. I propose to raise the target to 40,000 by the end of the year," he said at a press conference following an informal meeting of EU defense ministers.

According to Borrell, the Ukrainian military also needs more specialized training in view of the plans to supply new weapons. In this regard, the EU is exploring the possibility of training pilots on F-16 fighter jets as part of its mission.

Borrell also welcomed the decision of Denmark and the Netherlands to provide Ukraine with these aircraft in the future.

The EU Foreign Affairs Council established the EUMAM Ukraine mission "to assist in enhancing the combat capabilities" of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in October last year. Its program includes "individual, collective and specialized training" for Ukrainian soldiers in centers located in EU member states. In addition to training, the military receive equipment and ammunition.

The mandate of EUMAM Ukraine is for two years, with a planned funding of €107 million for this period.

Background. As a reminder, Western instructors have reported an acute shortage of interpreters in the training of the Ukrainian military.