Macron opens the door for Ukraine to ‘neutralize’ Russian bases

But even Kyiv’s most stalwart allies are balking at the risk of sending their own troops into Ukraine. On Monday, Stubb said: “At this stage, talk of sending troops to Ukraine is pure speculation. Finland’s position has not changed in any way. We are not about to send troops.”

Any decision to send troops to Ukraine should be taken collectively, Latvian Defense Minister Andris Sprūds told POLITICO. “A collective decision would absolutely provide the credibility,” he said.

Putin addressed the issue on a visit to Uzbekistan on Tuesday by sowing fear that some Western troops — namely Poland’s — might never leave Ukraine once they enter. “All these proposals to temporarily spell several Ukrainian units along the border, to liberate them in order to send them to the battlefield, to keep them near the border to ensure security — this is all nonsense,” he said, according to the state-owned TASS news agency.

Speeding up the training of Ukrainian soldiers is a key issue for Kyiv after it broadened the draft to include younger men — increasing the size of the military to counter the growing Russian offensive that is stretching its defenders thin.

Borrell announced the EU will soon define new targets on training Ukrainians. He declined to disclose figures before they’re final but added there is “growing consensus on increasing [the] level of ambition.”

Earlier Tuesday, Estonia’s Pevkur said the target of Ukrainian soldiers trained by European armed forces should be raised to 100,000 from 60,000 currently.