UK, EU to ink deal for EU’s military mobility scheme: Dutch Minister
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Holland's Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren asserts that the UK is moving closer to joining the EU’s military mobility scheme.
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A convoy of British armored vehicles of the Royal Welsh Battlegroup is on the way to Estonia. (EPA)
Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said that the UK will sign an agreement with the European Union that will allow it to move troops and equipment across the bloc's territory more quickly.
During her visit to the UK, Ollongren said as quoted by The Times newspaper, "I'm really happy that the UK will join because we are seeing right now how important the UK is, it is an important partner when it comes to military cooperation aiding Ukraine."
The minister stated that the UK's plans to rejoin the EU's "military mobility" group, which it left after Brexit, are inextricably linked to the conflict in Ukraine.
According to Ollongren, both sides' ministers are expected to approve the final agreement in November.
The military mobility group is an EU initiative to improve military personnel, equipment, and assets mobility within and beyond the EU's borders. The initiative reportedly enables EU member states to ensure rapid movement within the EU in order to respond quickly to threats or emergencies.
Ukrainian soldiers to be trained by the EU
This comes shortly after a new package of supplies worth 500 million euros ($486 million) was agreed upon by the Council of the European Union for the Ukrainian military along with a “Military Assistance Mission (EUMAM)” to train Ukrainian soldiers.
It is the sixth package of military supplies for Ukraine that will be sent under the EU's European Peace Facility, bringing the total to 3.1 billion euros since late February. Military equipment for defensive purposes, maintenance, and repair of vehicles will be included in the package as well as fuel and personal protective equipment.
Also, the EU foreign ministers have agreed to start a mission with the aim of training Ukrainian soldiers and "enhancing the military capability of Ukraine’s Armed Forces to effectively conduct military operations."
The EUMAM will be organized in EU countries' territories and is expected to last for two years.
the US and the EU keep stacking military aid packages, with the former's recent August package including a $3bln arms supply and the latter's seen through Germany's continuation of weaponry transfer to Ukraine, including new equipment that the German Armed Forces do not have enough of, according to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
The UK is also in deep water, according to a source cited by The Times newspaper, given that it is running out of weapons and financial contributions for Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Russia criticizes the flow of weapons to Ukraine from the West, saying it adds fuel to the fire, and warning that any military shipments on Ukrainian territory would be "legitimate targets" for the Russian forces.
