“El Pais”: NATO plans to open a defense training center for the Ukrainian army

According to sources, this NATO center will be designed to help Ukraine not only train its soldiers and civil servants in the field of warfare, but also teach them strategy and defense administration.

The center aims to boost support for the country, which was attacked by Russia two years ago, and help its forces meet the standards of the alliance it hopes to one day join.

“Until now, the Alliance has avoided steps that Russia might perceive as a threat. For this reason, the Allies provided military equipment and training to Ukraine on a bilateral basis or in groups. The new center represents a change of philosophy in this regard and a new element in NATO-Kyiv relations,” the article reads.

At the moment, 31 military allies are discussing how the new center will be financed (whether it will be financed from NATO’s general funds or from the budget fund) and which instructors will work there.

According to diplomatic sources familiar with the internal negotiations, these might be instructors stationed at the new base or personnel sent by NATO members for a shorter period of time.

It is said that the defense ministers of the NATO countries will soon finalize the details of the project. It is expected that in July it will be given final approval at the summit in Washington.

Some time ago, the media reported that NATO is also considering the possibility of taking over the coordination of arms supplies to Ukraine. It is noted that this would symbolize a change of course, as previously the Alliance did not directly intervene in supply issues, leaving them to the discretion of individual member states.

In addition, the NATO leadership wants to integrate Ramstein-style meetings into the Alliance’s structures. Such a decision might be an attempt to protect once morest possible changes in US policy, El Pais noted.