NATO allies are on the brink of sending troops into Ukraine to train Ukrainian forces, a move that could potentially draw the United States and Europe deeper into the conflict. With Ukraine facing a critical manpower shortage and worsening battlefield position due to Russia’s accelerated advances, Ukrainian officials have requested assistance in training 150,000 new recruits closer to the front line for faster deployment.
While the United States has initially declined the request, Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has indicated that a NATO deployment of trainers seems inevitable. However, concerns have been raised about the risks involved in such a deployment, including the potential need to use air defenses to protect trainers instead of critical Ukrainian infrastructure near the battlefield.
Despite the White House’s stance against putting American troops on the ground in Ukraine, some NATO allies, such as France and Estonia, have not ruled out the possibility of sending troops to assist in training Ukrainian forces. Lithuania’s foreign minister has also expressed support for sending Western troops to Ukraine, citing the need for better and faster training to counter an expected Russian offensive this summer.
As discussions continue within NATO on how best to support Ukraine without escalating the conflict, the possibility of training Ukrainian troops in Lviv near the western border with Poland has been raised. However, concerns remain about the risks involved, particularly in light of recent Russian attacks on Lviv. Additionally, efforts are underway to base defense contractors in Ukraine to help build and repair weapons systems closer to the combat zone, a strategy described as a “fix it forward” approach by military officials.
