Lithuania is ready to send soldiers to Ukraine on a training mission, but Kyiv has not asked for it

Lithuania is ready to send its soldiers to Ukraine on a training mission, announced the Prime Minister of Lithuania Ingrīda Šimonīte, but so far no such request has been received from Ukraine.

In an interview with the “Financial Times” newspaper, Šimonite stated that she has “parliamentary permission to send soldiers to Ukraine for the purpose of training”. As the head of the Lithuanian government said, so far Kyiv has not asked for such help.

Šimonite admitted that Russia would definitely consider it a provocation, but emphasized that “if we were always thinking about Russia’s response, then we wouldn’t be able to send anything. Every other week we hear that something will lead to a nuclear war”.

As the Prime Minister of Lithuania said, Russia is intensifying its attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, such as power plants, schools and hospitals. “Russia is trying to bring about a new wave of people fleeing Ukraine, because people will not have basic communications and services,” Shimonite warned.

There are more than 4.2 million refugees from Ukraine in the European Union, but as the war continues into its third year, many European countries are criticizing aid to Ukrainians.

Šimonite also clarified the news that Lithuania would help Ukraine to recover men of conscription age. “We will not organize the deportation of Ukrainian men and we will not look for them in the country, because that would be illegal,” said Šimonite, adding that the EU has guaranteed them protection until March 2025.

However, those for whom Kyiv provides evidence that he has evaded military service may be denied permanent residency, Shimonite said. She expressed her desire to “help Ukraine to have the potential to rebuild its armed forces and give rest to people who have been at war for a long time

Presidents of Ukraine and Lithuania. Photo: PETRAS MALUKAS / AFP / Scanpix