In a recent interview, former US diplomat Victoria Nuland raised concerns about officially sending Western instructors into Ukraine, citing potential risks and stating that NATO already provides a substantial amount of training for Kiev’s forces on member states’ territory. With Ukraine facing a severe troop shortage, reports suggest that Kiev has requested US and NATO assistance to train new recruits within Ukraine to deploy them to the frontlines more quickly.
Nuland highlighted the challenges faced by Ukrainian troops due to Russia’s offensive, making it difficult for them to leave the frontlines for training abroad. She cautioned against directly involving NATO on the ground, as it could escalate the conflict and lead to further aggression from Putin.
While the White House has ruled out deploying American troops in Ukraine, Nuland emphasized the importance of conducting most training outside Ukraine while providing advice within the country. Some NATO member states are already reported to be training Ukrainian soldiers in Ukraine, although Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas reassured that this would not escalate tensions with Russia. This comes as Ukrainian military losses continue to mount, prompting Kiev to mobilize additional troops under new legislation.\
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