EU raises training goal to 75,000 Ukrainian soldiers

The European Union wants to train around 75,000 Ukrainian soldiers by the end of the year, the bloc’s foreign policy chief said on Friday, but not on Ukrainian soil.

The EU already set a goal of training around 60,000 Ukrainian soldiers this year, but with fierce fighting continuing in the war-torn country, the bloc wanted to do more.

“Today, the ministers agreed to raise the target to 75,000, adding 15,000 more by the end of the year. This is also good news,” Borrell told reporters in Brussels after a meeting of EU defense ministers.

“The training has to be shortened and adapted to the Ukrainian needs,” he said, adding that a “small” coordination center could be established in Kyiv.

However, providing training to soldiers in Ukraine itself is a contentious issue.

Several countries, including Estonia, France and Sweden, support training soldiers in Ukraine, but others such as Hungary, are reluctant to have any European military presence in Ukraine, even instructors, an EU diplomat said.

France shocked its allies earlier this year when President Emmanuel Macron said he did not rule out sending Western troops to Ukraine, although he acknowledged that there was no consensus on taking such action.

Borrell earlier on Friday urged EU states to accelerate their arms deliveries to Ukraine, following an appeal a day before by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

“Many pledges have been done since June, especially on air defense, and in the face of massive attacks to Ukraine and Ukrainian cities… It is clear that we will have to react,” Borrell said.

He also slammed restrictions on Ukraine over how Kyiv uses arms supplies.

“It is ridiculous to say that allowing targeting inside Russian territory means to be in a war against Moscow… We are supporting Ukraine,” Borrell said.

Ukraine has made repeated calls to its allies to lift restrictions but Berlin and Washington oppose such a move, fearing a confrontation with Moscow.

A German government source lashed out at Borrell over his use of the word “ridiculous”.

“Towards the end of his term, Borrell’s statements are becoming increasingly strange. One thing is clear: he is speaking less and less on behalf of the European Union, and more and more for himself,” the source said.

Estonia’s ex-premier, Kaja Kallas, has been tapped to replace Borrell later this year.