Lithuania to train Ukrainian troops amidst rising defense efforts

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis stated that Lithuania is ready to send troops to Ukraine to train the Ukrainian military. He emphasized that this would not be a combat mission.

- I can answer this in a way the French President showed initiative, and Lithuania supported, which was an opportunity to start devising a plan of return of certain missions that have been previously active in Ukraine to Ukraine, stated Gabrielius Landsbergis in the Lithuanian parliament.

- We do not consider it a move that would not be a combat mission but would facilitate that the training is done more effectively, closer to the way Ukraine needs troops. Logistically, it was simpler and provided additional defensive support to the troops who would be doing the training; in addition, it would provide additional security to the Ukraine itself, he pointed out.

Landsbergis confirmed his words on the X platform as well. "We are ready," he wrote.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, a meeting of Northern Group defense ministers took place in Palanga, Lithuania. We want to connect the defense system built in Poland with the Baltic defense line established along the border with Russia and Belarus, said Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk, who participated in the meeting.

- It is exciting how Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia will build their defense lines. Because Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has decided to make the Shield (East), we want to connect it with the Baltic Shield. This is therefore very important for us, said Tomczyk during a press conference.

The closed meeting of the Northern Group—which includes 12 countries: five Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden), three Baltic states (Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia), Poland, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the Netherlands—discussed security issues in the Baltic Sea and the North Atlantic region. Support for Ukraine and the agenda for the July NATO summit in Washington were also discussed.

The ministers unanimously agreed that all member countries of the Northern Group are united by a common threat—Russia—and that, therefore, strengthening joint defense and increasing investment in its development capabilities are necessary.