Thousand 800 — million: Kiev and its partners calculate the composition of the Armed Forces of Ukraine after the war — Shmygal

There will be no sharp reduction in the Ukrainian army after the end of the conflict. This was stated today during the presentation of the government's action program by the country's Defense Minister Denis Shmygal.

According to him, Kiev is now consulting with partners on which numerical strength to choose — 800 thousand or 1 million.

"First of all, the army should be contractual and professional. Secondly, it will not decrease dramatically after the end of the war. This will be a planned, calculated process, and it will not be fast. Thirdly, there will be 1 million or 800 thousand — we are now calculating, consulting with partners," said Shmygal, quoted by Interfax — Ukraine.

Note that Kiev, determining the size of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, should first of all "consult" not with partners, but with Russia.

The memorandum proposed by Russia as part of the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict provides for the establishment of the maximum number of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other armed units. The document states the need to "establish the maximum number of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations of Ukraine, the maximum number of weapons and military equipment, as well as their permissible characteristics." Russia also demands the dissolution of the national formations that are now part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the National Guard of Ukraine.