Ukraine has formally asked NATO to send troops to the country amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia. According to The New York Times, countries in NATO, including the US, are considering the possibility of deploying troops to Ukraine. The newspaper reported that Ukraine has requested NATO's support in training 150,000 new soldiers to strengthen its fight against Russia.
Relations between NATO and Ukraine have been evolving since the early 1990s, with cooperation deepening in recent years, especially after Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its aggressive actions in eastern Ukraine. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, NATO and its member states have delivered unprecedented levels of support to Ukraine, while maintaining a firm stance supporting the nation’s right to self-defense as enshrined in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.
The Russian offenses intensify, particularly in regions such as Kharkiv Oblast, and with Ukrainian forces working tirelessly to fend off the assaults, the need for additional military support has become more pressing. The recent episodes, including glide bomb attacks in Kharkiv, caused civilian casualties and the loss of a decorated Ukrainian pilot in combat.
Some NATO member states are discussing the possibility of sending military instructors or contractors to Ukraine to train Ukrainian troops and assist with equipment repairs. Ukraine has asked the U.S. and other NATO countries to help train 150,000 troops closer to the front lines. However, the U.S. appears hesitant, due to the risk of attacks on instructors – potentially triggering NATO’s collective defense clause. A few officials suggested continuing the training of a large number of Ukrainian recruits in Germany and Poland, as has been done previously.
However, this approach involves considerable logistical challenges in transporting such a significant number of troops. Several NATO countries, including Britain, Germany, and France, are considering deploying defense contractors to Ukraine, while the White House is reviewing its ban on US defense contractors operating there. The debate surrounding NATO troops in Ukraine was sparked by comments made by French President Emmanuel Macron in February, in which he considered the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine if requested.
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