Lithuania open to discuss sending troops to Ukraine

Lithuania has expressed its willingness to consider sending troops to Ukraine as part of a potential European military presence.

Gabrielius Landsbergis, the country’s Foreign Minister, made the statement, noting that Lithuania is open to exploring such options if the situation requires it, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

"We must remain open to the proposals put forward by [French President Emmanuel] Macron. <...> It may become necessary for European soldiers to be deployed on Ukrainian soil, and Lithuania is always ready to consider such options," Landsbergis said during a joint press conference with his Estonian counterpart, Margus Tsahkna.

Landsbergis  also suggested that Western countries must send a strong and clear message to Russia regarding the use of hybrid warfare tactics and establish clear red lines to prevent further escalation.

In addition, Landsbergis criticized the European Union’s current strategy for supporting Ukraine, describing it as ineffective. He called for a new approach from Brussels to better address the challenges posed by the ongoing conflict.

The comments follow a conference in Paris on February 26, where delegates from around 20 Western nations, including Macron, discussed the potential deployment of ground troops to Ukraine. While no consensus was reached, Macron kept the option open, suggesting that if Ukraine requests assistance or if Russian forces break through Ukrainian defences, sending troops could become a possibility.

Later, Macron revisited the idea, noting that the deployment of troops could be considered under such circumstances. He also emphasized efforts to form a European coalition focused on sending instructors to Ukraine. In a report on November 25, Le Monde confirmed that European countries had resumed discussions on the potential deployment of either troops or private military contractors to Ukraine.

Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov warned that the deployment of foreign military contingents to Ukraine would lead to serious consequences.

By Vafa Guliyeva