Defense ministers of the European Union countries agreed on Tuesday at an informal meeting in Prague to start preparatory work on the training plan for the Ukrainian military from the EU side, AFP reports.

“It’s not just about the war, it’s about the way it’s being fought, the training of the soldiers,” EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said after the talks.

“There are many training initiatives, but the needs are huge. We need to ensure coherence of these efforts,” he added.

“All member states have clearly agreed on this matter and on the start of the necessary work to define the parameters of the EU mission to provide military assistance to Ukraine,” Borrell said.

Ukrainian military could undergo training in EU countries

Under Borrell’s proposal, although the details are still unclear, Ukrainian soldiers fighting during the February 24 Russian invasion could receive training in EU member states.

“Obviously we have to be fast and ambitious,” Borrell said.

However, on the eve of the Prague meeting, some ministers were less optimistic.

“It remains to be seen whether this is the right way to help,” Luxembourg Minister Francois Bausch said, before adding: “I’m not so sure.”

“Maybe it could be done more quickly and flexibly on a bilateral basis, under the coordination of the EU,” he said.

Austrian Minister Claudia Tanner also expressed concern.

“The first question that needs to be clarified is whether such a mission can be well implemented,” she said, adding that similar missions took place outside the EU.

“There are a lot of unanswered questions from our perspective,” Ms. Tanner said.