Macron Proposes "Instructor Coalition" to Send Military Experts to Ukraine

French President Emmanuel Macron has put forward a proposal to establish an "Instructor Coalition," aiming to deploy Western experts to Ukraine.

This initiative, as reported by Welt am Sonntag, citing diplomatic sources in Brussels, seeks to enhance the training capabilities of Ukrainian forces amidst ongoing tensions in the region.

According to the publication, Thierry Burkhard, Chief of the General Staff of the French Armed Forces, dispatched letters last week to representatives of the USA and several European nations, extending invitations to join this multinational training coalition. Notably, invitations were sent to the Netherlands, Poland, the Baltic States, Denmark, Sweden, and Great Britain, with Germany being a notable exception from the list of recipients.

Macron intends to execute this initiative within the framework of the existing EU training mission in Ukraine (EUMAM), necessitating a revision of the mission's mandate. The mission is slated for review this summer, with an extension anticipated in November, making it a feasible avenue for implementing Macron's proposal.

However, resistance to Paris's ideas has emerged in Brussels, with several EU member states expressing apprehension about participating in a mission on Ukrainian soil. Italy, Germany, and Spain are among those voicing concerns, fearing that such involvement could escalate tensions and entangle Western countries in the conflict.

Despite these reservations, there is a prevailing sentiment in EU diplomatic circles that training Ukrainian soldiers within their territory holds military merit. Advocates argue that conducting training within Ukraine would align closely with the needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, obviating the need for troops to depart the country for training purposes.

Macron earlier expressed interest in dispatching military instructors to Ukraine, despite objections from certain allies. It is anticipated that France will initially deploy a limited contingent to assess the mission's viability, followed by the deployment of several hundred instructors.

The training program is slated to concentrate on critical areas such as demining, equipment maintenance, and technical support for military aircraft. Additionally, France has pledged to provide financial support, armaments, and training for a Ukrainian mechanized brigade.