US rules out plans to send military instructors to Ukraine
- 5 June, 08:41
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has ruled out sending military instructors to Ukraine, saying the US is ready to continue and expand training of Ukrainians outside of the country.
"We are not planning for a training mission in Ukraine… As we have said several times on the record, we are not planning to send US military advisors or troops trainers to train Ukraine, train unions in Ukraine,” Sullivan said on his way to France where he will attend the events on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landing.
Stressing that the training of Ukrainian troops is carried out outside of Ukraine, the White House official said the US has trained 1,000 of Ukrainian soldiers on Western made equipment in Germany.
"We have communicated that directly, and all of the training that we do is very closely coordinated with our allies and partners, many of whom have also conducted extensive training of Ukrainians outside of Ukraine, and will continue to do so," he stated.
Sullivan’s comments come after Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on June 4 while commenting on France's plans to send military instructors to Ukraine that "All instructors who train Ukrainian troops have no immunity [from Russian attacks against them], whether they are French or not."
It’s worth noting that in April this year US President Joe Biden signed a package of bills approved by the US Congress to send military aid worth 61 billion dollars to Ukraine.
