EU identifies two training sites in Ukraine for troop instruction
The European Union has identified two military training centers in western Ukraine where European forces could train Ukrainian troops on their own soil as part of potential security guarantees under a future peace agreement. The move signals a concrete step toward deeper military cooperation between Brussels and Kyiv.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in Brussels on February 11, ahead of a meeting of EU defense ministers, that discussions had included the possibility of conducting training activities inside Ukraine. She confirmed that two potential training centers had been identified for that purpose.
The announcement provides the first specific details about EU plans to carry out training missions on Ukrainian territory, following months of broader discussions about Europe’s role in ensuring Ukraine’s postwar security. A senior EU official told European Pravda that the bloc is exploring options to modernize Ukraine’s military training infrastructure, with facilities located in the country’s west.
Expansion of existing EU training mission
Since October 2022, the 27 member states have trained around 90,000 Ukrainian soldiers within EU territory under the EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine, known as EUMAM. The mission was extended for two additional years in November 2024, backed by a budget allocation of nearly 409 million euros.
Kallas met Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who attended the defense ministers’ meeting in Brussels to discuss ongoing military support and defense innovation. The EU recently approved a 90 billion euro loan package for Kyiv, with a substantial portion earmarked for defense spending.
The shift toward training inside Ukraine would represent a significant evolution of the EU’s support framework, bringing European personnel closer to the conflict zone while reinforcing Ukraine’s domestic training capacity.
Western troop commitments and Russian warnings
The discussions come as several European nations have signaled readiness to deploy troops to Ukraine as part of broader security guarantees. In January, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron signed a declaration of intent aimed at establishing military bases across Ukraine and constructing protected weapons facilities after a potential ceasefire.
Moscow has repeatedly warned against such deployments. Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in February that any Western military force or infrastructure established on Ukrainian territory would be considered foreign intervention and treated as legitimate targets by Russian armed forces. President Vladimir Putin echoed that stance, stating that any troops appearing in Ukraine, particularly while hostilities continue, would be regarded as lawful targets.
The developments coincide with intensified trilateral peace discussions involving Ukraine, Russia and the United States. Talks are expected to potentially resume on February 17 and 18, pending Moscow’s agreement.
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