Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis. Photo: Antikor
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis has called on the European Union to reconsider the idea of deploying military forces to help Ukraine. This proposal has once again become relevant due to reports of North Korean soldiers’ possible participation in the war on the side of Russia. This was reported by TimeUkraineIsrael with reference to POLITICO.
North Korean troops may join Russia
The information that thousands of North Korean troops could be sent to Ukraine to support Russia has sparked new discussions about the need for military assistance to Kyiv. Landsbergis stressed that now is the time to return to an idea previously proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron. The idea was to deploy European troops to defend Ukraine, but it was rejected earlier this year by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who said that the EU and NATO would not send troops to Ukrainian territory.
“If the information that Russian troops are receiving assistance from the North Korean military and ammunition is confirmed, we need to return to discussing the EU’s military presence in Ukraine,” Landsbergis said. He also expressed disappointment that Europe is lagging behind in its response to new challenges, but stressed the importance of taking proactive decisions.
The West’s cautious reaction
Western leaders are currently cautious about information about the possible participation of North Koreans in the war. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin have refrained from confirming these reports, although Austin has noted that if they are confirmed, it would be a serious challenge for the US and its allies. South Korea, for its part, is already preparing a delegation to travel to NATO headquarters to discuss its intelligence on North Korean military movements.
A call to action from European officials
Some European officials, including conservative MEP Riho Terhas, have criticised the West’s caution. Terhas, who was formerly the commander of the Estonian armed forces, believes that the information about North Korean support will be confirmed in the near future. According to him, Russia is desperate and looking for any possible options to avoid mobilisation, which only underscores its weakness on the battlefield.
Terhas also believes that the idea of deploying EU troops to Ukraine should not be rejected, even if it is not immediately implemented. “It should be at least an option,” he said, stressing the importance of the EU’s readiness to take more active action if the conflict drags on.
