Ukraine proposes to create an EU army on the basis of Ukrainian troops

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has expressed the idea of building a unified European army based on the combat experience of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He wrote about this in an article for Politico.

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According to Shmyhal, the Ukrainian army is capable of strengthening the European Union and becoming the basis of its future armed forces, if an appropriate political decision is made. He stressed that Ukraine has not only faced Russian aggression, but also knows how to counter it, so the country's accession to the EU is not only a moral obligation, but also a strategic step for the bloc itself.

Shmyhal also noted that Ukraine is already integrating into the European security system by implementing NATO standards. The Ukrainian defence industry has managed to establish mass production of drones: in 2022, no more than 5,000 were produced, and by the end of 2024, more than 1 million FPV drones were sent to the frontline alone.

According to the Prime Minister, the Ukrainian military can become an alternative to US forces in Europe, as the US is increasingly reconsidering the feasibility of deploying its military abroad. He stressed that Ukraine is not looking for financial preferences, but is offering a real contribution to European security.

The idea of creating a European army is not new. In 2017, 23 of the 28 EU countries signed a declaration on the formation of a defence alliance (PESCO). In 2018, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that "Europeans cannot be protected without a real European army" and that the EU cannot rely on the United States alone.

Source: Politico