After a nine-month delay, members of Montenegro’s Parliament have approved the decision to deploy members of its army to the European Union Military Assistance Mission for Ukraine.

Forty-nine out of 81 MPs voted in favor of the decision.

According to the adopted resolution, members of the Montenegrin Army will take part in the EU mission to provide military aid to Ukraine.

“The aim is to strengthen the capacities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to defend the country’s territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, in response to current military offensives by the Russian Federation, as well as other potential aggressors,” the statement explains.

Defense Minister Dragan Krapović, while explaining the decision, emphasized that it is out of the question for Montenegrin troops deployed to this mission to be sent into Ukrainian territory.

“I want to make that clear. I would never support such a thing. All activities of this mission are carried out on EU territory, in Poland and Germany,” the minister said.

The EU mission is one of two operations organized in support of Ukraine following the Russian invasion in February 2022, and Montenegro is expected to participate.