French military instructors to travel to Ukraine soon: Kiev army chief
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France's defense ministry stated that the matter was under review but did not confirm the deployment of instructors.
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A Ukrainian tank of the 17th Tank Brigade fires at Russian positions in Chasiv Yar, the site of fierce battles with the Russian troops in the Donetsk region, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024 (AP)
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrsky announced on Monday that the initial French military instructors are expected to travel to Ukraine soon. The announcement was issued following a video call involving Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu.
"I have already signed the documents that will allow the first French instructors to visit our training centers soon and get acquainted with their infrastructure and personnel," Syrsky said on social media. "I welcome the initiative of France to send instructors to Ukraine to train Ukrainian servicemen."
Responding to an inquiry from AFP, France's defense ministry stated that the matter was under review but did not confirm the deployment of instructors.
"Training on Ukrainian soil is one of the projects discussed since the conference on support for Ukraine convened by (French President Emmanuel Macron) on February 26," it said.
"Like all projects discussed on this occasion, this continues to be the subject of work with the Ukrainians, in particular, to understand their exact needs," it added.
France does not have officially deployed military personnel to assist or train Ukrainian forces within Ukraine. Yet, a recent report by Responsible Statecraft revealed that French nationals along other citizens of Western countries are already fighting in Ukraine.
Macron's previous remarks regarding potential Western troop deployment to Ukraine have elicited strong reactions from Moscow.
"[Macron's] statement is very important. It is very important and very dangerous," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on the matter.
Read more: France double-faced on Ukraine as Russian gas imports soar: Politico
In related news, the Pentagon recently announced another aid package for Ukraine worth $275 million.
According to a Friday press release from the Department of Defense, this is the fifth aid package since President Joe Biden approved a substantial foreign spending bill, allocating over $60 billion in military aid to Ukraine. This shipment, valued at approximately $275 million, is part of Washington's ongoing efforts to prolong the war in Ukraine.
The aid package includes additional precision strike rockets for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), artillery rounds, air-launched munitions, and anti-tank weapons, the statement noted. In addition to HIMARS rockets, the package includes artillery ammunition, mines, and other munitions. It also provides tactical vehicles, armor, and protective equipment for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats.
The latest US arms package comes amid a push by Kiev’s allies to lift alleged restrictions on using Western-supplied armaments to strike Russian territories. However, according to Moscow, this rhetoric aims to maintain the illusion that the West is not directly involved in the conflict.
