Lithuania to dispatch troops for Ukraine training, defying Russia
In a conversation with the "Financial Times," Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė announced that the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania have agreed to dispatch soldiers for training missions to Ukraine. Kyiv has yet to request such assistance, but Lithuania is prepared to offer support. This move is likely to be frowned upon by Russia.
1:29 PM EDT, May 9, 2024
Recent weeks have seen concerning signs of Russian forces gaining ground in Ukraine. Despite the influx of military aid from the West since the onset of the conflict, the situation at the front has deteriorated once more due to Russia's mobilization efforts.
Following Emmanuel Macron's announcement of deploying troops to the front line, Lithuania's Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė shared her insights with the "Financial Times." During her interview, she revealed that she has received approval from the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania to send troops to Ukraine for training.
The tiny nation, long feeling endangered by Russia, aims to assist Ukraine in securing victory.
Šimonytė knows that the Kremlin would view this act as a provocation. However, she regards the persistent Russian threats of nuclear retaliation against countries that support Ukraine as baseless at present.
"If we just thought about the Russian response, then we could not send anything. Every second week you hear that somebody will be nuked," stated the Prime Minister of Lithuania.
In their dialogue, the deportation of Ukrainian men eligible for military conscription was discussed. The Prime Minister of Lithuania clarified that her country is not aiding Kyiv in this matter, aligning with the EU's international protection system, which is valid until March 2025.
She further mentioned that Lithuania will refrain from granting permanent residency permits to individuals dodging military service in Ukraine, provided the Ukrainian authorities can substantiate such cases. This measure aims to deter Ukrainians from escaping military duties by moving to Lithuania.
