Ukrainian Foreign Legion Establishment Announced by Ukraine’s President

On Sunday, February 27, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced the establishment of the Ukrainian Foreign Legion. He launched an appeal to all the Europeans who know how to use a gun and want to join voluntarily this international legion to do that.

This will be the key evidence of your support for our country.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy cited by Reuters

No other details were offered as to how the European could join this legion and what will its legal status was going to be. It might be similar to the French military corp, but it’s too soon to tell either way.

Moreover, establishing such an international paramilitary corp during the conflict could be counterproductive. It would immediately be infiltrated even by the very enemy and could challenge the international community to remain neutral during the conflict.

Zelenskiy plans to show the international leaders that their citizens are ready to defend Ukraine. The call of the Ukrainian President seems more like a slap in the face for NATO and the EU. Zelenskiy has constantly accused both structures of moving too slow with sanctioning Russia. Also, he is upset with the NATO countries not defending Ukraine’s territory with military means. Moreover, he expressed his discontent with both alliances in avoiding a definitive answer to accepting Ukraine in the EU and NATO.

From this perspective, only Poland’s president, Andrzej Duda, has called for Ukraine to be given an accelerated path to joining the European Union, cited by Notes from Poland. But this is too little, and it might be too late for a country that is barely resisting these days to the invasion.

Ukrainian Foreign Legion could follow the French similar structure

France has the most famous structure, the French Foreign Legion – “Legion Etrangere.” Established in 1831, the French structure allows the recruitment and incorporation of other nationals into the French Army. The Legion has got its fame during the campaigns in Africa, Europe, and Asia, even during modern times.