Berlin: According to the German news agency DPA, the EU may one day think about relocating a training facility for Kiev's troops to Ukrainian soil. It added that Brussels might also agree to allocate additional billions of euros to support the Ukrainian military in the future.
The EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, was reportedly prepared to propose a significant extension to the current training program for the Ukrainian military during a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels later that day, according to a report on Thursday from DPA.
The media outlet claims to have seen a document outlining Borrell's recommendations, and it states that "when the circumstances allow, a gradual relocation of the training activities to Ukraine could even be considered."
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If and when there is a ceasefire between Kiev and Moscow, this scenario may come to pass, according to the German news agency. According to the logic behind the proposal, the presence of military personnel from other EU countries in Ukraine would serve as a deterrent to future Russian incursions.
Borrell also intends to demand that member states pay for additional weapons deliveries to Kiev, including contemporary fighter jets. Borrell wants about €5 billion ($5.6 billion) set aside each year between 2024 and 2027 for this purpose, according to DPA. According to rumors, the funding would come from the EU Peace Facility (EPF).
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Borrell also intends to demand that member states pay for additional weapons deliveries to Kiev, including contemporary fighter jets. Borrell wants about €5 billion ($5.6 billion) set aside each year between 2024 and 2027 for this purpose, according to DPA. According to rumors, the funding would come from the EU Peace Facility (EPF).
Borrell is reportedly planning to propose a number of other things on Thursday, including "new quantitative and qualitative training targets" for EU countries. According to DPA, of the 30,000 Ukrainian soldiers that the bloc had initially promised to train, 25,000 had already completed their training or were about to do so.
The diplomat reportedly wants to see improved communication between Ukraine and the EU in terms of sharing intelligence and producing weapons.
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In the meantime, Peter Szijjarto, the foreign minister of Hungary, stated on Wednesday that Budapest would prevent Kiev from adding a Hungarian bank to its list of "sponsors of war" unless Kiev removed an existing €500 million tranche of EU military aid for Ukraine. OTP bank was designated by Ukrainian authorities in May as a result of its alleged operations in Russia.
Russia has argued repeatedly that Western backing for Ukraine will only serve to intensify the bloodshed.
