Lithuania to Supply Ukraine with Short-Range Air Defence Systems and Consider Deployment of Peacekeepers

Lithuania has handed over portable short-range air defence systems with missiles to Ukraine, and the country's army chief Raimundas Vaikšnoras has said that it is necessary to consider sending its military to Ukraine to carry out a peacekeeping mission.

This is reported by the Ministry of Defence of Lithuania and the LRT publication.

‘A new delivery of modern portable air defence missile systems with missiles has arrived in Ukraine, strengthening its ability to withstand brutal Russian aggression,’ the Ministry of Defence said.

It also noted that Lithuania plans to increase Ukraine's needs for air defence, ammunition and drones in 2025. 

In addition, the country plans to simultaneously support Ukraine's defence industry by financing weapons produced in Ukraine.

‘Lithuania will contribute to the Mine Action Coalition, which it leads together with Iceland, as well as to other coalitions of armed forces of which it is a member. Military assistance will also be provided through international funds and collective initiatives, as well as training for the Ukrainian military and rehabilitation of wounded soldiers,’ the Lithuanian defence ministry added.

For his part, Commander-in-Chief of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Raimundas Vaikšnoras noted that Western countries have been discussing the possibility of sending peacekeeping forces to Ukraine for several months now, if a ceasefire is agreed upon.

‘If you ask whether Lithuania could (send troops to Ukraine), yes, we will probably consider it. There will be a discussion, and I think we also have to take responsibility for stability in Europe,’ the Lithuanian general said on Thursday.