BRUSSELS, 23 August (EUROPEAN PRESS) –

The EU seeks to coordinate the training work launched by several Member States to train Ukrainian troops facing the Russian invasion, with the idea of ​​a unifying effort under the umbrella of a joint European military training mission, following the model of what the EU is already doing in several African countries.

After the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, submitted his proposal on Monday to create a new “strong” military training mission with which the EU trains the Ukrainian Army, an issue that will be discussed in depth between foreign ministers. from the bloc in Prague next week, its spokeswoman, Nabila Massrali, has pointed out that the initiative tries to bring together efforts that, separately, have been undertaken by several member states.

“A number of countries have already offered this and we will evaluate how we can create synergies based on the work already done. The format should be determined together with member states in consultation with Ukraine,” he told Europa. Press. .

In particular, Poland is training Ukrainian pilots, and other EU members such as the Netherlands, Denmark and Finland have announced their participation in a UK-led program to train Ukrainian soldiers which has the capacity to train 10,000 soldiers every 120 days. .

In a statement this Tuesday on TVE, the head of community diplomacy explained that “many states of the Union” have requested this initiative, which “has been discussed for a long time.” “There is training of Ukrainian soldiers in the UK, in all countries that offer them weapons. I believe that the EU can also bring together the capacity of its members to do in Ukraine what we do in many other parts of the world,” he said. guaranteed.

Borrell recalled that the European Union maintains 17 operational missions worldwide and currently offers training work for the Army of Mali, Mozambique and the Central African Republic, in addition to two naval missions in the Mediterranean and off the coast of Somalia and several civilian missions and support to the Bosnian authorities. , Kosovo, Mali or Niger.