The European Union plans to reach 75,000 Ukrainian military personnel trained on its territory soon as part of the EU Military Assistance Mission for Kyiv.
EU Chief Diplomat Kaja Kallas announced the initiative at a press conference following the Foreign Affairs Council, stating that the target will be reached by early next year.
“Our message is very clear: you cannot fuel a war in Europe and get away with it,” stated Kallas.
“Ukraine needs our support on the battlefield. The stronger they are on the battlefield, the stronger they are also behind the negotiation table. Not just to hold on, but to tilt the balance to their favour, because Putin will not stop unless he is stopped,” she added.
During the Council, European Foreign Ministers also approved the 15th sanctions package against Russia, which includes measures targeting North Korean officials and Chinese companies supplying drones to Moscow.
Military Assistance Mission for Ukraine
Since its launch in October 2022, the EU Military Assistance Mission for Ukraine (EUMAM) has trained around 60,000 Ukrainian troops.
The mission aims to enable Kyiv to “defend its territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, effectively exercise its sovereignty and protect the civilians from Russia’s armed aggression,” stated the European Council.
Through the program, Ukrainian soldiers receive training on EU territory, primarily in Poland and Germany.
Currently, 24 EU member states contribute to implementing training modules and provide experienced personnel to lead the drills.
EUMAM is financed through the European Peace Facility.
In October, the European Council announced an extension of the mission’s funding until November 2026, with a budget of 409 million euros ($429 million).
In 2023, European nations invested over 200 million euros ($220 million) in training Ukrainian soldiers, marking a fourfold increase compared to the previous year.
