As the war in Ukraine grinds on, the European Union (EU) is poised to extend its military training program for Ukrainian soldiers well into 2026. Initially launched in 2022, the training initiative, known as the EU Military Assistance Mission (EUMAM Ukraine), was created to provide Ukraine with vital military skills and tactics as it continues to defend itself against Russia’s invasion. With over 60,000 Ukrainian soldiers having undergone training so far, the mission is widely seen as a crucial aspect of the EU’s support for Ukraine. However, questions about the program’s effectiveness and its future are now being raised, particularly as political divides within the EU come into play.
According to a report by Semafor on October 10, there is a general consensus among EU member states to extend the training program by an additional two years after its current term expires in November 2024. The mission’s chief, German Colonel Niels Janeke, confirmed that discussions are in the advanced stages, although the final decision has yet to be taken by the European Council. The proposed extension, which would stretch the mission into 2026, reflects the EU’s continued commitment to bolstering Ukraine’s defense capabilities amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Another German officer involved in the mission, Lieutenant Colonel Roland Bosker, revealed that detailed training plans have already been drawn up for 2025 and 2026, indicating that the EU is preparing for a long-term engagement in Ukraine. The EU’s press service reported that 24 of its member states are currently participating in the mission, with Germany and Poland hosting the majority of the training.
Despite the consensus among most EU members, Hungary remains an obstacle in the process. Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has consistently criticized Brussels’ approach to the Ukraine conflict, calling for more diplomacy and less military intervention. Budapest has refused to provide any military assistance to Kiev, and this opposition has caused delays in the EU’s decision-making process. According to an anonymous European official, talks regarding the program’s extension are in the “final stretches,” with Hungary’s position being one of the last hurdles to overcome.
Hungary’s refusal to engage militarily with Ukraine is in stark contrast to the broader EU approach, which has seen extensive financial and logistical support for Kiev, particularly through mechanisms like the European Peace Facility (EPF). The EPF has been used to fund both the training program and the weapons requested by Ukraine, with an emphasis on equipping the Ukrainian soldiers being trained by Western instructors.
While the EU’s training mission has provided Ukraine with a significant boost in terms of manpower and expertise, there have been concerns about the quality of the training itself. Some Ukrainian soldiers have voiced dissatisfaction with the program, noting that the training they receive does not fully prepare them for the intense and unpredictable nature of the battlefield. Ukraine’s conflict with Russia has been marked by ferocious combat, including heavy artillery shelling, drone warfare, and trench-style fighting, which some trainees claim is not adequately reflected in their training sessions.
In response to these concerns, the EU is reportedly working to refine the training programs, with an emphasis on tailoring the lessons to the specific realities of the Ukrainian battlefield. This includes offering more specialized courses in artillery, engineering, and logistics.
One of the key debates surrounding the future of the EU’s training mission is whether it should continue to be conducted outside of Ukraine or move to Ukrainian soil. As early as July 2023, the EU’s foreign policy arm, the European External Action Service (EEAS), recommended extending the mission for two more years, ruling out the option of moving the training inside Ukraine. Such a move would likely require the deployment of NATO troops, a step that EU leaders are not currently prepared to take due to the risk of further escalating tensions with Russia.
However, the idea of training Ukrainian soldiers on their own soil has not been entirely dismissed. In February 2024, French President Emmanuel Macron suggested that NATO troops could be sent into Ukraine to conduct training, urging Western leaders not to rule out the option. Some EU officials, including Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte, have expressed support for the idea, arguing that it would provide Ukrainian forces with more immediate and relevant training. Nevertheless, several EU member states have been hesitant to deploy their troops to Ukraine, fearing that it could lead to a direct confrontation with Russian forces.
In addition to the EU’s training mission, individual EU member states have undertaken their own initiatives to support Ukraine’s military efforts. France, for example, has been training Ukrainian soldiers at a facility in the Grand Est region of northeast France. French President Macron recently showcased these efforts, emphasizing that Western military support remains critical to Ukraine’s ongoing war effort.
Beyond training, the EU has also provided significant financial and logistical support to Ukraine through mechanisms like the European Peace Facility. Since its establishment, the EPF has been used to fund weapons and military equipment requested by Kiev, further strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
As the war between Russia and Ukraine drags on with no clear end in sight, the EU’s continued support for Ukraine will be crucial in shaping the outcome of the conflict. The proposed two-year extension of the EU’s training mission signals a long-term commitment to Ukraine’s defense, even as questions remain about the quality and scope of the training provided. At the same time, political divisions within the EU-most notably Hungary’s opposition-highlight the complexities of maintaining a unified stance on the Ukraine conflict.
For now, the EU’s training mission remains one of the most visible aspects of its support for Ukraine, but it is clear that the road ahead will be filled with both logistical and political challenges. As the European Council prepares to make its final decision, the future of the mission-and the EU’s broader role in Ukraine’s war effort-hangs in the balance.
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