The overwhelming majority of Croatia's population opposes the country taking part in the joint training of Ukrainian soldiers with the EU. According to a recent public opinion survey, 58 per cent of Croats reject this type of assistance, with the head of state also sharing the majority's view.

In Brussels, the Croatian government promised help to Ukraine, but the president and most of the opposition are against the idea of having Ukrainian soldiers undergo training in Croatia. In fact, the cabinet’s proposal for Croatia to participate in the European Union Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine has already been submitted to the parliament.

Photo: Facebook

However, a recent survey carried out by the Promocija Plus agency clearly shows what Croatia’s citizens think about the issue. The results are unequivocal, as almost 60 per cent (58.2 per cent) of residents oppose the training of Ukrainian soldiers in Croatia. However, less than a third of respondents (29.4 per cent) would mostly or completely support such a step.

As expected, participation in the joint European project is mostly supported by voters of the governing parties, but even one third of these voters happen to be against it. Voters of all other opposition parties, both on the left and the right, tend to provide a negative answer to this question.

The military mission includes several elements in terms of the method and place of training. Of these, people mostly agree with training health and de-mining professionals in Croatia. This is supported by 30 per cent. However, the rejection of the training of soldiers is clear.

One in five of those surveyed approves of Croatian specialists training Ukrainian soldiers abroad, and even fewer, only 16.5 per cent, say that Ukrainian troops should come to Croatia, so that Croats could help them there to prepare for their battles against the Russians.

In the coastal Adriatic country, 10 per cent of the population believes that Croatian specialists should travel to Ukraine and work there to train Ukrainian soldiers. At the same time, almost a quarter of the respondents (22.7 per cent) did not answer the questions. They either refrained from expressing an opinion, or did not know where and how the training of Ukrainians should take place, the news portal Danas wrote, reviewing the findings of the survey conducted by Promocija Plus on commission from RTL. The study asked 1,300 people between 30 November and 3 December.

Photo: Facebook

Milanovic: Croatian soldiers shouldn’t fight other people’s wars

Parliament will make the final decision on the issue. On 15 December, lawmakers will vote on whether or not Croatia should participate in the EU mission. As reported by V4NA , approval requires a two-thirds majority, but this outcome is far from certain in the vote. President Zoran Milanovic and the opposition do not support the proposal. Parliament also appears divided on the issue, making it doubtful for the proposal to get the 101 votes required for adoption.

Speaking about the issue, the president of the republic previously stated that Croatia will not contribute to the training, as it is not the job of Croatian soldiers to fight other people’s wars.

„This war is not taking place in our backyard. Ukraine is at war. I will not allow a handful of charlatans who only care about their own interests to involve Croatia in anything more than necessary,”

Mr Milanovic told journalists in Split recently.

Photo: Twitter

The European Union adopted its decision to conduct a military assistance mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine) in October. “The strategic objective of EUMAM Ukraine shall be to contribute to enhancing the military capability of Ukraine’s Armed Forces to regenerate and to effectively conduct operations, in order to allow Ukraine to defend its territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, effectively exercise its sovereignty and protect the civilians in Ukraine,” the European Union’s official website says. Parliament’s vote on the proposal for Croatia to participate in the mission is scheduled for mid-December.