Josep Borrell: “The Ukrainian army is one of the best armies in the world”

EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Josep Borrell on Friday visited the training site of the new Military Assistance Mission of the European Union to support Ukraine (EUMAM for Ukraine) in Brzeg, Poland.

“I have been visiting the Ukrainian soldiers being trained. I am very humbled by these encounters. I am very humbled and honored to be here with Ukrainian soldiers that are being trained here to defend their soil against Russia’s aggression,” Borrell told reporters, opening a news conference, according to the EU External Action site. “Everybody is full of admiration for the bravery of the Ukrainians soldiers, their courage and determination to defend their homeland.”

He also stressed that everybody agrees today that the Ukrainian army is one of the best armies in the world. “They have proved that they are in the real fight,” he said.

The EU diplomatic service chief called the EUMAM a “very tangible proof and illustration of the overall European will to support Ukraine: militarily, financially, economically and politically.” He said it is an unprecedented mission “pushing the boundaries of the European Union military cooperation to new levels.”

According to Borrell, the EUMAM, in which 20 EU Member States participate, is expected to train 15,000 Ukrainian soldiers and will cost around €100 million to the EU budget. Currently, 1,100 Ukrainian soldiers are being trained in different camps within the mission framework.

He thanked Poland for the “big effort that the Polish Army and the Polish people are doing. Without them, without the strong support of the Polish government, it would not be possible to develop in such a short time this Mission and to make it operational.”

“We are also going to provide resources: €16 million for lethal equipment for training purposes. And more will come. Other countries will join us: Norway, for example, not a European Union member, has announced they will be supporting this Mission financially with around €15 million in order to provide the required ammunition and training material,” Borrell said.