Ukrainian troops begin EU training as bloc expands military role

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(Bloomberg) —

Ukrainian men and women practice mine clearance in one of the first military drills offered by the European Union’s new training mission for the country’s armed forces, part of a shift in the bloc to undertake more d defense initiatives since Russia launched its war on its borders.

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In fields near a small town of Brzeg in southwestern Poland, a group of soldiers have been receiving instructions for more than a week on mine-clearing techniques and how to defuse booby traps from international military trainers, including Canadian sappers. They are part of the first contingent of 1,100 soldiers trained in different places on the continent.

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« I am very moved by this meeting, very humbled and happy to be with Ukrainian soldiers who are trained here to defend their soil against Russian aggression, » Josep Borrell, head of foreign policy at the U.S., told reporters on Friday. EU during a visit to the base. . « This mission is an unprecedented mission in many respects – it pushes the boundaries of European Union military cooperation. »

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, the EU has made one of its boldest forays into active military support – a big step for a bloc forged to ensure that the bloody conflicts of World War II world never happen again on the continent.

The EU is trying to mount the ambitious 106.7 million euro ($112 million) mission – aimed at training 15,000 Ukrainian soldiers – on top of major arms deliveries to Ukraine, economic sanctions against Russia and billions of euros to strengthen Kyiv’s finances.

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The training mission, which will also take place in Germany, will take place for the first time outside the country and on EU soil, despite the bloc’s treaty stipulating that military means for its common security and defense policy must be used outside the EU and not inside it. And, in another first, the EU is using taxpayers’ money to reimburse member states for the weapons they send to Ukraine through its European Peace Facility.

This contrasts with the last time Russia invaded Ukraine and annexed Crimea in 2014, when the EU mainly imposed sanctions in response. And while the states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization have individually offered billions of dollars in arms, training and other forms of support, the military alliance as an organization has refrained. to offer any lethal support – contrary to EU measures – to avoid an escalation of the conflict.

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Big change

These measures represent what many see as « transformational change » for the EU, said Steven Blockmans, research director at the Center for European Policy Studies, a Brussels-based think tank.

« The Eternal Peace Project is now involved in reimbursing member states or using EU structures for the deadly aid they send to Ukraine, » Blockmans said, adding that unlike the NATO, it is not considered an escalation because « Russia has simply not taken the EU seriously as a military player.

Various training efforts for Ukrainian soldiers are already underway, including by the United States and the United Kingdom. The UK has been joined by countries like Canada and Sweden in providing thousands of Ukrainian soldiers with basic training over the next few months. The Netherlands and Germany also jointly trained Ukrainian soldiers in the use of Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzers.

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The EU Military Assistance Mission to Ukraine is headed by Vice-Admiral Hervé Blejean and will provide individual, collective and specialist training to up to 15,000 soldiers. Despite Poland’s initial pushback, the training of about a third of the soldiers will also take place in Germany.

Under the European Peace Facility, Member States have already agreed to finance up to €3.1 billion in arms deliveries to Ukraine. This represents more than half of the overall budget of around 6 billion euros, which is also used to support other countries. Discussions are ongoing on how to raise this cap.

Separately, the EU also agreed earlier this year to establish by 2025 a force of 5,000 troops that can deploy rapidly in the event of a crisis. The response force, part of the bloc’s security strategy, was developed before Russia invaded.

Despite EU measures, it is unclear what impact these efforts will have on the war in Ukraine.

While they may not be a game-changer, the efforts are slowly and gradually helping to build a European defense union, Blockmans said.

—With the help of Piotr Skolimowski.