italian elections
The European Union’s top diplomat, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Vice-President of the European Commission Josep Borrell, signaled that a proposal would be on the agenda when Member States meet next Monday. The plan would assign a mission of training and organizational assistance to the Ukrainian army, mirroring arrangements in seventeen other countries where such support has been established. This is framed as a practical step to bolster Ukraine’s military capacity in the face of ongoing hostilities while avoiding a direct presence on Ukrainian soil.
The measure is set to be discussed during the Council of Defense Ministers gathering in Prague. Borrell expressed confidence that the directive would secure approval, emphasizing that the operation would operate from neighboring countries rather than within Ukraine. He noted at a Santander press conference that this continued effort would address both the immediate needs of supplying equipment and the longer-term goal of building a more effective, organized defense framework for Ukraine. The remarks aligned with reflections from the Quo Valleys Europa program managed by the Menéndez Pelayo International University.
Borrell also cited examples of ongoing training efforts, pointing out that the United Kingdom has already trained Ukrainian forces and that the EU has engaged in similar programs with other partner countries such as Mali, Niger, Chad, and Mozambique. While he did not offer further operational specifics, he described the mission as potentially significant, given the scale of the conflict and the broader strategic implications for European security.
The head of European diplomacy stressed that the proposed operation would be calibrated to the realities of a large-scale war, distinguishing it from earlier forms of conflict that involved asymmetric tactics or guerilla warfare. He stressed that any task undertaken by the EU should be proportional to the security challenges on the ground. In a stark recall of the humanitarian toll, he cited estimates such as ten million Ukrainians, or roughly twenty percent of Spain’s population, having left their homes amid the fighting.
In this vein, Borrell responded to Cantabria’s president, Miguel Ángel Revilla, who had characterized the conflict as not merely a small war in a recent interview with the weekly World. At the opening of the same course, the EU’s top diplomat reaffirmed that the Ukraine crisis is not isolated from broader international tensions. He indicated that the talk would extend to other global conflicts and their effects on international relations, even if those issues do not produce the same ripple effects across regions.
The remarks underscored that the war in Ukraine is far from a minor confrontation. Borrell signaled that the opening remarks would address not only Ukraine-related decisions but also a range of international conflicts that shape the diplomatic landscape, with particular attention to how these events influence European cohesion and broader security guarantees.
When asked about potential dangers, including risks at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Borrell echoed a message from United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. He framed it as a solemn call for disarmament around the nuclear facility and stressed the EU’s position against further attacks. He also confirmed that the Russian Armed Forces had disconnected the plant from Ukraine’s power grid on occasion to link it to Russia’s network, a move that has raised concerns about energy security and regional stability.
Italy’s forthcoming elections, scheduled for September 25, drew questions about the risk of a far-right shift. Borrell declined to comment on party dynamics, citing his role as the EU’s top diplomat. He highlighted strong ties with Mario Draghi, the country’s prime minister-designate who also leads the European Central Bank, describing Draghi as deeply committed to Europe and to Ukraine. While he could not predict the next government’s stance, Borrell noted that Brussels is watching the electoral developments with careful interest and that continued European support for Ukraine remains a priority.
The overall message reflected a deliberate effort to align EU policy with the realities of an ongoing conflict, while emphasizing unity among member states. As discussions proceed, officials aim to balance practical security assistance with strategic considerations that shape Europe’s approach to regional stability and crisis response in the years ahead.