Today, April 4th, a military delegation from European Union countries is arriving in Ukraine to provide support in the form of military forces.
RBK-Ukraine explores which issues will be raised during this visit, besides the potential deployment of military units in Ukraine.
Although discussions involve numerous countries, a select group, including representatives from France and the UK, will be visiting Kyiv, as announced by President Volodymyr Zelensky on April 1st.
French President Emmanuel Macron, the initiator of the idea for the military contingent, previously stated that these would be so-called "support forces" that could be deployed once a ceasefire is achieved.
"These 'support forces' should not replace peacekeeping troops or the resilient Ukrainian army," Macron emphasized on March 26, underlining the importance of long-term placement in strategic points in Ukraine with Kyiv's agreement. The goal of the contingent is to deter potential aggression from Russia.
Zelensky also pointed out that discussions will involve the development of the Ukrainian armed forces and their role in European security. "It is essential to consider what the future of the Ukrainian army will look like as part of the continent's overall security," he stated.
Macron further confirmed that the delegation is tasked with determining the future parameters of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
"What kind of army, what naval capabilities, what air force capabilities, what format in terms of size, number of soldiers, and equipment will be necessary to respond to potential Russian aggression?" Macron stated on March 27. This information is needed for European countries to plan their contributions and clarify the support each country in the 'Coalition of the Resolute' will provide in the future.
The final format of the mission remains uncertain.
The deployment of the contingent to Ukraine has been actively discussed for several months at the diplomatic level. A summit of state leaders on this issue was held in Paris on March 27.
However, as RBK-Ukraine reported, various mission formats are still under consideration. The choice of format will largely depend on the ceasefire conditions with Russia, as achieving a ceasefire is a necessary prerequisite for the deployment of any contingent.
Nonetheless, according to analyst Igor Chalenko, there are already several technical and logistical issues that can be addressed.
"For example, there are questions about air cover: from which European airfields can European planes take off? This needs to be calculated and planned," Chalenko noted in a comment.
Moreover, there is talk of possibly relocating the training of Ukrainian units from Europe to Ukraine with the involvement of European instructors. Ultimately, no such visits occur without discussions about urgent assistance to Ukraine.
"It's about enhancing support here and now. This visit should be seen in the context of President Zelensky's statements regarding the potential intensification of offensives in the Kharkiv, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia regions," Chalenko said.
However, the key factor remains the ability of the US to compel Russia to cease fire and achieve a lasting ceasefire. Without this, discussions about a European mission in Ukraine will remain just discussions.
As a reminder, RBK-Ukraine previously explained what the 'Coalition of the Resolute' is, which countries are part of it, and in what formats the coalition provides assistance to Ukraine.