EU launches training mission for Ukrainian army
The EU on Monday stepped up its military aid to Kyiv by launching a mission to train 15,000 Ukrainian soldiers and providing another 500 million euros in weapons.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba addresses a meeting with his EU counterparts via video link from a shelter in Kyiv, urging more air defense over the supply of drones to Russia after strikes hit the city. and urged Iran to impose sanctions.
“Russia’s recent indiscriminate attacks do not undermine our determination to support Ukraine, they only strengthen it.”
Several EU countries, including Germany and France, are already training Ukrainians to use the latest artillery systems, missile launchers and air defense systems they have delivered to Kyiv.
The US, Canada and the UK are already training thousands of troops.
Officials said the plan was to provide basic training to 12,000 soldiers and professional guidance to more than 2,800.
Ukraine’s neighbor Poland will be the main base for the mission, and Germany will also be an important training base.
A new 500 million euro tranche raises the overall contribution to weapons from the EU central coffers to 3 billion euros. Member States are also spending more out of their own pocket.
“Demanded more air defense and ammunition supplies. Asked the EU to impose sanctions on Iran for providing drones to Russia,” he wrote.
EU ministers debated Russia’s alleged use of Iranian-made drones to attack Ukrainian targets, but no punishment was yet expected.
Brussels has said it is conducting an investigation into possible violations of UN resolutions and may impose sanctions.
Dutch Foreign Minister Wobke Hekstra said he thought it was “wise” to impose sanctions.
The EU, which is now brokering a stalled effort to revive the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, is lagging behind Washington in imposing sanctions on Tehran.
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first published as EU launches training mission for Ukrainian army
EU launches training mission for Ukrainian army
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