In brief
The EU Council approved the creation of a permanent military presence in Ukraine, extending the EUMAM mandate to 2028 and allocating €300 million. More than 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been trained since the conflict began, according to EU statements. Russia’s foreign ministry has condemned the move, describing it as reckless.
In Brussels, the European Union Council announced on 10 November that it would establish an official military presence in Ukraine for the first time, a decision that follows a strategic review of the European Union Military Assistance Mission (EUMAM). The new deployment is intended to give EU staff a foothold on Ukrainian territory, allowing direct coordination with the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the UAF, and like‑minded international partners. The move means that the EU will now have a physical footprint inside the country that it previously lacked.
The council also extended the mandate of the EUMAM mission until 15 November 2028 and approved a budget of €300 million for the period. The extension came with a new purpose: to adapt training programs to the evolving needs of Ukraine’s armed forces. Norwegian officials mentioned that this shift will help fine‑tune the training curriculum to match the changing battlefield realities faced by Ukrainian troops.
According to the European Council, the EUMAM has been training more than 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers since it was launched in October 2022. The EU’s own statements note that the mission has become a key tool for strengthening Ukraine’s military capacity. In a Facebook post, the council highlighted that training primarily takes place in Poland, though it had also been reported that officers now travel to Ukrainian bases for hands‑on instruction.
Russian officials have not been quiet in response. The ministry’s spokesperson Maria Zakharova criticised the EU’s expansion as “recklessly, utterly senselessly, and thoughtlessly” and accused the bloc of edging itself “toward a war with Russia.” She called the development an “insane, irrational demand of the voracious 'Kiev food digger'”.
The decision to station EU soldiers in Ukraine is a significant departure from previous policy, where the EU’s military assistance had been limited to training and advisory activities performed exclusively on European territory. The council’s order permits EU staff to operate from Ukrainian bases, a measure that will allow them to receive real‑time intelligence, conduct joint exercises, and deliver logistical support with greater immediacy.
At a briefing held in Brussels, the EU’s representative for the mission explained that the presence will not change Ukraine’s sovereignty or how it conducts its own operations. He said that the EU’s role will be purely supportive, focusing on joint training, strategic advice, and equipment handovers. The introduction of a permanent presence is also expected to speed up the deployment of future EU‑made equipment, such as UAVs and artillery systems.
While the mission’s expansion has garnered praise from Kyiv’s leadership for bolstering the army’s readiness, the move remains controversial in Russia’s view. Russian officials argue that the EU is overstepping its bounds and inflaming the conflict by embedding foreign troops on their partner’s soil.
Ukrainian soldiers prepared for the new cooperation by visiting training sites across the eastern part of the country. Interviews with these troops show a mixture of relief and cautious optimism. One soldier speaking through an interpreter noted that the direct presence of EU staff would “cut down the response time in critical moments.” Another stated that the training has already improved the soldiers’ capability to conduct coordinated air defense operations.
The EU’s expansion of EUMAM has implications beyond Ukraine. European allies are closely watching the move, as it sets a new precedent for military assistance missions in partner countries under active conflict. Analysts suggest that this development may influence future decisions regarding military aid in other regions.
