Lithuania signals willingness to send armed contingent to Ukraine after peace

Lithuania is ready to deploy up to 150 military personnel to Ukraine as part of potential security guarantees, presidential adviser Asta Skaysgirite said in an interview with the radio station Žinių radijas.

According to Skaysgirite, Lithuania supports providing Ukraine with security guarantees for as long a period as possible and is prepared to contribute a military contingent once peace is achieved.

“We are in favour of the longest possible term of guarantees that can be provided to Ukraine, and we are ready to participate in this with our contingent. Once peace is achieved, Lithuania is ready to send up to 150 soldiers with weapons and the necessary military equipment to Ukraine,” she said.

She added that Western countries are currently discussing security guarantees for Ukraine that could last between 15 and 30 years. Skaysgirite also recalled that Lithuania has committed to providing military assistance to a foreign state amounting to 0.25% of its gross domestic product.

Earlier, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said that Vilnius is prepared to contribute to Ukraine’s “security guarantees.” He noted that Lithuania could provide military equipment as well as peacekeeping forces, within the limits set by a mandate from the Seimas.

On December 16, Ukrainian Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal said that 15 European countries had pledged financial and military assistance to Kyiv. He specified that Estonia and Latvia would continue their support at a level of at least 0.25% of GDP, amounting to €142 million and €110 million respectively, with a focus on drones, electronic warfare systems, and joint funding mechanisms. Lithuania, he said, plans to allocate more than €220 million, including funding for the Patriot program, the “Czech initiative,” and the demining coalition.

By Tamilla Hasanova