is France sending army instructors or not? | EUROtoday
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“Ihe welcomes France's initiative to send instructors to Ukraine to train Ukrainian military personnel. I have already signed the documents which will allow the first French instructors to soon visit our training centers and familiarize themselves with their infrastructure and staff. »
This message, sent Monday May 27 at 5:10 p.m. on Telegram by General Oleksandr Syrsky, surprised more than one. “I believe that France's determination will encourage other partners to join this ambitious project,” added the chief of employees of the Ukrainian military. An announcement made a couple of hours after a video assembly between the latter, the Minister of Defense, Rustem Umerov, and the French Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu.
In reality, France would have change into the primary nation to formally ship army instructors to Ukraine. But a couple of hours later, at 9:32 p.m., the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense on X (previously Twitter) offered a “clarification” that seemed like a denial. “Since February 2024, Ukraine has expressed interest in the prospect of receiving foreign instructors in Ukraine. For now, we are still in discussions with France and other countries on this issue. »
And to clarify that “the Ministry of Defense, in collaboration with the General Staff, has started working internally on the relevant documents on this issue in order not to waste time coordinating bureaucratic issues when the appropriate decision will be socket “. On the side of the Ministry of the Armed Forces, the vagueness remains maintained. Contacted by The worldSébastien Lecornu's cabinet recalls that the sending of troops cannot be “excluded”.
The most skilled European power
Since 2014, the Ukrainian military has been skilled by American and British instructors on its soil. Since the invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the coaching of Ukrainian troopers has taken place in different nations: Poland, Germany, United Kingdom, and many others. France has skilled round 12,000 troopers, a few of whom on its soil. This entails coaching round trench warfare, pilots on Alpha Jet earlier than occurring to American F-16s or extra just lately even on using the Caesar cannon.
But after greater than two years of high-intensity conflict, the Ukrainian military finds itself probably the most skilled European power. Less on tactical maneuvers, coaching will undoubtedly be emphasised on the use and upkeep of armored autos and sophisticated weapons techniques, reminiscent of anti-aircraft protection, which is so essential.
In February, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz quietly revealed that British and French particular forces have been already current on Ukrainian soil. Their position would undoubtedly include adjusting the Storm Shadow and Scalp missiles. Guest on May 21 on the LCI channel, Lithuanian Defense Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis affirmed that his nation was prepared to affix a coalition led by France to coach troops in Ukraine.
https://www.lepoint.fr/monde/guerre-en-ukraine-la-france-envoie-t-elle-ou-non-des-militaires-instructeurs-29-05-2024-2561447_24.php