European instructors should be in Ukraine before Trump officially takes office

I am 33 years old, have lived in France for over 20 years, and for the past 10 years - one-third of my life - I’ve been doing my best to support Ukraine from here. My decision not to take up arms isn’t about comfort, but rather my belief that I can contribute in other ways: by explaining here that the future of Europe and the free world is being shaped in Ukraine, and by achieving meaningful results within France. Supporting the initiative for French military instructors is something I could never have accomplished from Ukraine.

In April 2024, French President Emmanuel Macron launched a plan to send military instructors to Ukraine to strengthen its defense capabilities. These instructors were supposed to arrive in Ukraine by summer, but due to the political crisis in France, which left the government in disarray, the plan was not carried out.

Recently, Russian aggression has escalated, with North Korean soldiers now involved in the war. Also, with Trump about to take office as U.S. president, it's unclear what his stance on Ukraine will be.

Together with Nicolas Tenzer, a well-known intellectual in France and a great friend of Ukraine, we decided to gather signatures from influential French personalities to support this cause.

At every meeting, we explained the purpose of the project: to show Russia that France and Europe are not afraid. Russia is a criminal state that uses terrorism to achieve its goals and only attacks the weak. Therefore, if Europeans do not want to live under bombs, as Ukrainians do today, they must show strength and courage to deter Russia from further actions in Ukraine and Europe. In these difficult times, they must also act in a way that reflects the values of freedom and democracy that they have the chance to defend.

At first, the French president didn’t get enough support for this idea. But now, with Russia threatening Europe every day, more people are starting to see what we’ve been saying all along: Ukraine is defending Europe. That’s why Europeans must do everything they can to protect their security.

Sending military trainers to Ukraine right away would strengthen Ukraine’s defense, show European unity, and help prevent more Russian attacks.

Ideally, instructors from several European countries should be in Ukraine before Donald Trump officially becomes president. This way, Europe will show its strength, and the U.S. will have more reasons to support Europe and Ukraine.

In recent days, support for this initiative in France has grown significantly. The French Foreign Minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, has even stated that he doesn’t rule out the possibility of sending French instructors or troops to Ukraine in the near future.

However, the real danger lies in the time it takes for European countries to make their decisions. That’s why we’re doing everything we can right now to ensure that this idea becomes a reality in the coming weeks or even days.

At this critical moment, Europe must stop following the lead of the United States or Russia and take responsibility for its future and security. It’s time for Europe to step up and take charge.

Specially for Espreso

About the author. Volodymyr Kohutiak, vice-president of the Association of Ukrainians in France.

The editors do not always share the opinions expressed by the blog authors.