Training mission for Ukraine. Alternative to NATO membership?

NATO member states have decided to create a joint mission in Ukraine. The main activities will be training. According to Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, Putin must understand that he cannot win this war in a few months, a year or two years. Ukrainian professor Ihor Todorov told that, this mission could be an alternative for Ukraine instead of inviting it to join the Alliance.

After the meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council at the level of foreign ministers in Brussels, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said that NATO member states had decided to create a joint mission to support Ukraine, which is at war with Russia.

According to him, it will mainly include training activities. "This does not mean that we are going to war, but that we will now be able to use the Alliance's coordination, training and planning capabilities to support Ukraine in a more coordinated way," Sikorski said. In turn, Prime Minister Donald Tusk stressed that Poland does not plan to take direct part in the war in Ukraine.

Ukrainian expert: Ukraine has been waging war without allies for 11 years, only with partners

According to Ukrainian professor Ihor Todorov, the mission is to be more of an alternative for Ukraine instead of an invitation to join the Alliance at the upcoming July summit in the United States. "It looks like instead of a possible and very desirable invitation, they are trying to come up with something else, something like a 'sweetener' for Ukraine. To look positive on the eve of the summit, to show that NATO continues to support Ukraine, it is creating a special fund, a special mission.

“All these initiatives are great, they are definitely a step forward, but these agreements do not make our relations allied, they are just a partnership. For 11 years Ukraine has been waging war without allies, only with partners” he said.

Asked what tasks the mission would cover, the professor suggests it could include military exercises on Ukrainian territory. "There may be an emphasis on training on Ukrainian territory. So far, our troops have been training in the UK, Germany and Poland. It's hard to say exactly what this mission will do. But this area will be one of the key ones. It may also include help in countering disinformation and cyberattacks. However, I would like to stress that such NATO initiatives are good, but when it comes to consensus, it can block even such great initiatives," he said.

Inviting Ukraine to NATO is a step towards a great victory

Todorov also believes that inviting Ukraine to the Alliance will not lead to an escalation of the war, as it is already a daily occurrence.

We have seen this in recent days. Our energy infrastructure is being destroyed. We must realize that inviting Ukraine to the Alliance will be a trigger for our common future victory with the West. Until there is such an invitation, Russia sees the situation as an invitation to continue the war in Ukraine.

Asked if he believes Ukraine will be invited to the Alliance, Todorov said it all depends on the common consensus of all 32 member states. "I never lose my optimism, if there is the political will to do it, but it will be difficult to reach a consensus among 32 countries. We need a strategic position and vision of the goal of the war and our future victory. If there is such a vision, I am sure that the invitation will be issued" the expert said.