Lithuania ready to deploy troops to Ukraine after ceasefire, says President Nausėda

Lithuania is prepared to send its military forces to Ukraine as part of a mission following a ceasefire, President Gitanas Nausėda has confirmed.

Nausėda stated that his country is ready to provide the necessary support, outlining specific figures for the deployment of Lithuanian troops, Caliber.Az reports, citing Ukrainian media.

However, he stressed that the support of all nations involved in the coalition would be essential for this mission to proceed.

The Lithuanian president also addressed the efforts of former US President Donald Trump, who, according to Nausėda, had "sincere intentions" to end the three-year conflict between Russia and Ukraine. However, Nausėda claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin "simulated" negotiations while continuing to carry out attacks.

Lithuania, a staunch ally of Kyiv, shares a border with Russia’s exclave of Kaliningrad and views the outcome of the war as critical to its own national security. As a result, Vilnius has increased defence spending to deter potential aggression.

The issue of deploying military personnel to Ukraine has been under discussion by European countries recently. However, they have indicated they would only take such steps after a ceasefire is in place, fearing direct confrontation with Russia.

Several nations have expressed their willingness to contribute troops, though they have called for US support for the mission, which Washington has so far declined to provide.

The size of the European contingent and the mandate for the deployment remain unclear.

By Aghakazim Guliyev