October 18, 2022 - As has often been the case recently, there is discord between the Croatian Ministry of Defence and President Milanović regarding Croatia participating in an EU project to train Ukrainian soldiers.

As numerous international media reported earlier, European Union foreign ministers signed off on Monday on a military assistance mission to train 15,000 Ukrainian personnel in various member states. Croatian media reports that the key roles in the mission are those of Germany and Poland, as well as the Baltic states and Slovakia. Telegram.hr asked the Croatian Ministry of Defence whether Croatia is ready to participate in the program, and they've received a quite broad, but positive reply. "The Croatian army continuously conducts its own training. Within the framework of the existing training, we are ready to receive foreign participants, all in accordance with the plans and legal procedures", their reply reads, suggesting that the Politico's report which lists Croatia as one of the participating countries might be correct. 

Well, not so fast, if you ask the President of Croatia, Zoran Milanović, and the journalists did ask him exactly that today. Index.hr reports that he told the press that he is not familiar with the idea of Ukrainian soldiers being trained in Europe, but in principle, he does not support the training of "military manpower" on Croatian soil because it would mean involving Croatia in that war more than necessary. "I don't support that idea because I don't support involving Croatia in this war more than it should. It's bringing the war to Croatia. We are fair, we stand in solidarity and that's it," he said. If the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Croatia agrees with such an idea, Milanović tells them in advance: "Let's not go for it". "As the commander in chief (of the Croatian Armed Forces), I will not approve it," he said. He praised the courage of the Ukrainian army, which is not a member of NATO, but which has been getting a lot of support from NATO and some NATO members. "They train, finance, supply" (...) "so NATO is a factor 100 percent involved in the war in Ukraine. That is a fact". He will not say anything against it, but if it includes further Croatian involvement, he will be against it, he said.

February 26, 2022 - The fighting continues in Ukraine, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made it clear that they will not lay down their arms. He also called for volunteers in Europe to join the defense of the country, and the first Croatian volunteers have reportedly arrived on Ukrainian soil.

Fighting has been going on in Ukraine for three days since Russia invaded to "carry out the demilitarization and denazification" of the neighboring country. And while Ukrainian forces are fighting fiercely in several cities, Croats will soon join them.

Today, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that they will not lay down their arms and the Ukrainian army will continue to contain the Russian invasion in Kyiv. Additionally, in a televised statement, he urged volunteers in Europe to join the fight, who would be given weapons.

The first Croatian volunteers are going to the battlefield in Ukraine to fight on the side of the Ukrainian army, Dnevnik Nova TV writes.

As they have reported, a larger group of volunteers should join the Ukrainian army in a few days, and they have military experience from before and are full of desire to help the Ukrainian army.

Croats are not the only ones who will help Ukraine. Numerous countries have announced they are sending weapons, but also financial aid. On the other hand, ordinary citizens have made it clear what they think of Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to go to war.

Protests against the Russian invasion took place in many European cities this Saturday, especially many citizens at the protests in the countries bordering Russia. Solidarity with Ukraine has been expressed around the world. In Zagreb, hundreds demonstrated against the Russian aggression that has so far claimed the lives of nearly 4619 Ukrainians.

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