France Boosts Ukraine’s Fight with Military Support and Advice

Clear Facts

• The Ukrainian government has praised France’s decision to send military advisors, hoping this will encourage other Western allies to do the same.
• Ukraine’s Commander in Chief, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, and Defence Minister Rustem Umerov have expressed their approval for the French initiative and are advocating for additional equipment and ammunition support.
• France’s Defence Ministry has confirmed ongoing discussions about training Ukrainian troops on home soil, though the project timeline remains undefined.

The Ukrainian government has shown gratitude for France’s commitment to sending military advisors to Ukraine. This action by France could potentially prompt other Western countries to send their own troops to Ukraine.

French President, Emmanuel Macron, has exhibited a strong desire for direct military involvement in Ukraine, which is now becoming a reality. Ukraine has legally allowed for foreign troops to enter its territory.

General Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukraine’s new Commander in Chief, and Defence Minister Rustem Umerov have acknowledged the discussions held with French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecorne.

“The first French instructors” are set to arrive in Ukraine soon, according to Syrskyi. He welcomed “France’s initiative to send instructors to Ukraine to train Ukrainian military personnel” and has “already signed the documents that will allow the first French instructors” to arrive. The initial group of French advisors will primarily visit Ukrainian training facilities for orientation and familiarization.

Syrskyi also expressed hope that this action by France will motivate other Western countries to more actively support Ukraine.

“I believe that France’s determination will encourage other partners to join this ambitious project,” he remarked.

Yet, the timeline for implementation is uncertain, as recent statements from the Ukrainian Defence Ministry indicate. Ukraine has expressed interest in receiving foreign instructors from February 2024 onwards, with ongoing discussions with France and other nations.

Umerov emphasized the need for France to hasten the deployment of instructors and appealed to France for additional armaments.

Umerov stated, “Strengthening our combat units is essential to repel current attacks and deter potential offensives. We discussed the need for armored vehicles, artillery, air defense, and ammunition. I emphasized the importance of quick delivery of weapons”.

The French Defence Ministry confirmed that the project is in progress without making any firm commitments on its swift execution. They mentioned: “Training on Ukrainian soil is one of the projects discussed since the conference on support for Ukraine convened by the President of the Republic on February 26. This track continues to be the subject of work with the Ukrainians, in particular to understand their exact needs.”

Western military assistance has mostly revolved around support without escalating the situation, which initially restrained some states from supplying weapons. However, there has been a gradual shift towards more direct military support, such as advanced missiles, main battle tanks, and jet fighters to Ukraine.

The potential for direct troop deployment, including French soldiers acting as advisors, is a notable development. In February, President Macron openly discussed deploying soldiers to Ukraine, stating that it “could not be ruled out” and that “we must do whatever we can to obtain our objective”.

Despite criticism from fellow NATO leaders regarding his public remarks on deploying troops to Ukraine, Macron remained firm in his position. He recently reiterated his stance, stating clearly that, “If Russia wins in Ukraine, there will be no security in Europe”.

Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Source