After nine months of delay, the Parliament of Montenegro has approved the deployment of its military personnel to the European Union’s Military Assistance Mission for Ukraine. The decision, supported by 49 out of 81 lawmakers, enables members of Montenegro’s army to participate in training activities aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s Armed Forces in the face of continued Russian aggression. According to the official explanation, the move is intended to support Ukraine in defending its internationally recognized borders and to respond to offensive actions by the Russian Federation, as well as potential future aggressors.
Despite internal political disagreements, the final approval represents Montenegro’s strategic alignment with Western allies. The country has been a NATO member since 2017, though some factions of the current ruling coalition—including Speaker of Parliament Andrija Mandić, known for his pro-Russian stance and opposition to NATO—strongly opposed this initiative and delayed the vote. Mandić and his party have also rejected sanctions against Moscow, contributing to the nine-month stalemate.
Montenegro’s Defense Minister Dragan Krapović clarified that this mission will not involve deployment of troops into Ukrainian territory. All activities will be conducted within the European Union, specifically in Poland and Germany. “I want to make this very clear. I would never support sending our troops into Ukraine,” said the minister, reinforcing that the role of Montenegrin soldiers will be limited to training and support within EU borders.
This EU-led mission is one of two key international initiatives organized in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The second is coordinated by NATO. In February of this year, Montenegro’s Council for Defense and Security, composed of President Jakov Milatović, Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, and Speaker Mandić, agreed on a draft decision allowing participation in NATO’s support mission under the condition that Montenegrin forces operate only within NATO territories.
Although approval by Parliament was still required, the final vote now paves the way for Montenegro to formally contribute to Ukraine’s defense efforts, reaffirming its support for Western security initiatives despite domestic political challenges.
