Headline: Europe on Edge: Ukraine's Plea for Allied Support Amidst Russia's Aggression
The recent Russian air strikes have fueled Ukraine's plea for its allies to ease restrictions on weapon usage. Yet, Germany and the USA are wary of instigating conflict with Russia, given the sensitive situation.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba made a passionate appeal at a recent meeting in Brussels, urging Europeans to pressure the USA and Britain. His main demand: granting Ukraine authorization to strike military targets within Russia's core, beyond the Kharkiv region.
Virtual conferences with defense ministers covered a plethora of topics, including the expansion of the EU's training mission for Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine).
Josep Borrell, the EU's top diplomat, reaffirmed the EU's ambition to train 60,000 Ukrainian soldiers by year's end, 10,000 more than initially planned. To achieve this, the EU is mulling over the possibility of establishing a new coordination center in Kyiv, Borrell mentioned.
Germany's Parliamentary State Secretary for Defense, Thomas Hitschler, revealed Germany's plan to train 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers by year's end. The training will take place "in Germany," Hitschler emphasized.
President Emmanuel Macron of France urged the EU to allow training in Ukraine itself, rather than in member states as before. However, Germany opposes this proposal, citing potential conflict with Russia and the risks to the soldiers.
Estonia voiced support for Macron's idea, with Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur stating, "You can't box without using both hands." The Netherlands and Latvia also expressed interest in engaging in discussion. Notably, consensus in the EU is of paramount importance, Pevkur noted.
The defense ministers are also discussing the G7 group's promise to provide Ukraine with a loan of 50 billion euros. The EU plans to utilize the earnings from frozen Russian assets for this purpose, though specifics remain unclear. The situation in Gaza is also under consideration. The new chair of the Defense Committee in the European Parliament, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP), is integral to the debate.
The European Union, under Josep Borrell's leadership, aims to train 60,000 Ukrainian soldiers by the end of the year, with a potential new coordination center being established in Kyiv.
Although France's President Emmanuel Macron called for training Ukrainian soldiers within Ukraine, Germany, an EU member, is against this move due to possible conflict with Russia and the risks to the soldiers. However, Germany seems to be more cautious not just because of the potential conflict, but also due to political considerations, Chancellor Olaf Scholz's stance, and general reluctance among Germans to send troops to Ukraine.
