The United States currently has no plans to deploy military trainers to Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict, according to Gen. Charles Brown, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff. Speaking to reporters on May 20th, Gen. Brown stated that there are “no plans to bring U.S. trainers into Ukraine” at this time. This comes after roughly 150 U.S. military trainers were reportedly deployed in Ukraine prior to Russia’s invasion earlier this year.
Gen. Brown made these remarks during a joint press briefing with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, where both officials emphasized the importance of maintaining U.S. support for Kyiv, particularly given recent advances by Russian forces in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region. In light of these developments, French President Emmanuel Macron suggested that deploying Western troops to Ukraine should not be ruled out entirely.
In a recent interview with The Economist, Mr. Macron reiterated his stance on the matter, stating that he would not rule out the idea of sending troops to support Ukraine, especially if its defense lines were to collapse. This proposal has garnered some support from other European leaders, such as Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, who stated that training Ukrainian soldiers within Ukraine is “more practical” than doing so within NATO member states.
However, the White House has repeatedly maintained its stance against putting boots on the ground in Ukraine and has urged its NATO allies to follow suit. In a recent statement, UK Prime Minister David Cameron reiterated this position, stating that “Ukraine has that right.” The Kremlin has criticized these remarks as a direct escalation that could pose a threat to European security.
Despite the current absence of U.S. military trainers in Ukraine, there have been suggestions that some Western allies may already be providing training to Ukrainian soldiers on the ground. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas told the Financial Times that certain Western allies were “training soldiers on the ground” in Ukraine, though she did not specify which countries were involved.
In summary, while there are no current plans for the United States or other NATO members to deploy military trainers to Ukraine, some European leaders continue to argue in favor of supporting Kyiv’s war effort with troops on the ground. As the conflict in Ukraine continues to evolve, it remains to be seen whether this stance will change and whether additional Western support might become necessary to help the country defend itself against Russia’s ongoing aggression.