EU mulls deployment of military trainers to Ukraine

The European Union's foreign and defence ministers are scheduled to meet in the middle of next week to deliberate on the potential deployment of military instructors to Ukraine.

This meeting will mark the first official discussion on the matter, with a final decision expected no later than November.

The proposal will also be reviewed by the EU's Political and Security Committee (PSC) on August 27, Caliber.Az reports citing sources in German media.

The discussions follow a formal request from Kyiv to the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, dated May 31. In the letter, Ukrainian authorities asked the EU to send military trainers to support their efforts.

The proposal has elicited mixed responses among EU member states. France, the Baltic States, Denmark, and Sweden are in favour of deploying military specialists to Ukraine, viewing it as a means to bolster Ukraine’s defence capabilities. On the other hand, Austria, Hungary, Germany, Malta, and Slovenia have expressed concerns about the potential for increased conflict escalation and are hesitant about the move.

The decision on whether to send military trainers will be influenced by these varying national perspectives, as well as ongoing assessments of the potential impact on the broader conflict.