Lithuania to Maintain Military Aid to Ukraine at No Less Than 0.25% of GDP

Lithuania will continue to provide military support to Ukraine at a level of at least 0.25% of GDP and has called for tougher sanctions against Russia.

The Gaze reports on it, referring to Ukrinform.

During his visit to Kyiv, Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania Juozas Olekas said that military aid to Ukraine will continue at a level of at least 0.25% of Lithuania's GDP, and also stressed the need to increase sanctions pressure on Russia.

Olekas stressed that Lithuania will never recognize the illegal occupation and annexation of Ukrainian territories and called on international partners to adhere to the same policy.

"We call on our partners to also adhere to a firm and consistent policy of non-recognition. International law and its principles are not subject to discussion," the politician stressed.

In his opinion, only a change in the balance of power can force Russia to seek peace, while Ukraine is demonstrating active cooperation with the U.S. and European partners to achieve a just and lasting peace.

The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk, thanked the Lithuanian parliament and people for their consistent support of Ukraine, noting that this visit was Olekas' first international visit as speaker. 

The parties discussed further cooperation in the areas of military and defense, European integration, Ukraine's path to NATO, the return of Ukrainian children, sanctions pressure on Russia, and the use of frozen Russian assets.

As The Gaze reported earlier, the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection (SSSCIP) of Ukraine announced expantion its cooperation with the Lithuanian government in the field of critical infrastructure protection.