NATO has avoided sending soldiers to Ukraine so that it would not irritate Russia and become a party to the war, writes ‘s NATO special reporter Maria Stenroos.
Where is the line that must not exceed, so that NATO does not become a party to the war in Ukraine and irritate Russia? The West’s perception of the so-called red line has already shifted many times.
In recent weeks, Ukraine has been forced to defend itself against a Russian attack more than ever since the beginning of the war. That is why the West is feverishly thinking about how to help Ukraine survive.
There has been a debate in the media about whether some countries will send their troops to Ukraine if the country is in danger of losing the war, and what Ukraine is allowed to use the powerful weapons donated to it. Both have been painfully difficult questions because the West fears Russia’s reaction.
At the same time, it is known that even now there are or are some soldiers from Western countries in Ukraine on various types of training missions. Officially, no NATO country has sent soldiers to Ukrainian soil.
Ukraine is also not actually prohibited from firing donated weapons at the Russian side. For example, neither the United States nor Finland have encouraged or restricted the use of weapons. Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg said in February that Ukraine has the right to strike Russian military targets.
Crossing the red line also comes up this week because Ukraine appears to be getting military trainers from the West. France is discussing with Ukraine about sending trainers to Ukrainian soil. For example, the French public radio reports on this. Possibly a few other countries are also considering. According to the New York Times The possibility of training Ukrainians near the Polish border in Lviv has come up in the United States. However, Russia has continuously attacked there.
Ukraine, which is at a low point, is starting a new campaign to get more soldiers to the front. According to a diplomatic source, the need is to train 150,000 soldiers.
Educating such a number is laborious for Ukraine. Hardly everyone can be transported abroad for training.
President of France Emmanuel Macron teased in February by starting a debate that sending ground troops to Ukraine should not be ruled out. Other countries were quick to make it public that no one was planning to send troops.
If there are trainers from NATO countries in Ukraine, they are what they appear to be: NATO soldiers.
At the time, Macron justified his opening with the fact that many things have been impossible in Europe’s opinion, but still it has been done in the end. At first, European countries thought they could not send tanks or fighter jets to Ukraine, but they were still donated.
Sending trainers is not the same as sending combat troops. But if there are trainers from NATO countries in Ukraine, they are what they appear to be: NATO soldiers.
Russia has been feared to expand the war or to retaliate if NATO participates in the war. However, no direct countermeasures have been seen so far.
The sabotages and other means of hybrid warfare of the past days and weeks can be an intimidation so that the West would be wary of supporting Ukraine, leaving the country at the mercy of Russia.
The education plans of France and possibly some other countries are again pushing the limit of how far Ukraine can be helped. The line changes again.
European institutions too have to take the matter on their table. The foreign ministers of the European Union talked about it yesterday, and no consensus was reached. NATO’s foreign ministers will discuss trainers today at their meeting in Prague, which starts on Thursday.
NATO makes a difference in that it does not jointly directly donate weapons to Ukraine, but the decisions are the member countries’ own. Probably, the attitude towards the solutions of the member countries regarding education in Ukraine is of the same type. Member countries may do so, but NATO does not want to be a party.
Finland is not going to send its trainers To Ukraine, at least now, Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen (co.) told on Wednesday. Finland trains Ukrainians in Britain and Poland.
Häkkänen justifies his position by saying that Ukraine is a war zone.
The Minister of Defense does not take a position on how other countries operate, but it is everyone’s own decision.
Operating in the middle of war has its risks. NATO and the EU must discuss the issue also because the trainers sent to Ukraine may be in danger. Someone has to take responsibility if something happens.