EU offers to train Ukrainian snipers, sappers, officers - Bloomberg

This was reported by Bloomberg with reference to a document distributed by the European External Action Service among EU members.

According to the document, Ukraine has identified specific needs for military training, in particular for medical, sapper and sniper tasks, as well as various types of officer training.

"After further review by the Armed Forces and consultations with partners, in particular the United States and Great Britain, one or more of the above-mentioned tasks may be supported by this EU training mission," the document says.

According to Bloomberg, at a meeting of EU diplomats last week, at least one state expressed concern that such a mission could increase tensions with Russia.

Several states raised the question of why the mission was needed at this stage, and how best to ensure that it would not interfere with other efforts to train the Ukrainian military.

The document also states that the Ukrainian military training mission will operate on a temporary basis, but it "will eventually be able to be deployed in Ukraine when conditions permit and a relevant decision is made."