The Lithuanian authorities approved a package of long-term military assistance to Ukraine totaling nearly $220m.
Lithuania will send Ukraine ammunition, generators, and detonation systems in January, as well as M577 armoured personnel carriers in February.
This was announced by Lithuanian President, Gitanas Nauseda during a joint conference with Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Vilnius.
“We continue to support the brave Ukrainians in their fight by all means: military, economic and political,” Nauseda said.
Zelenskyy and Nauseda signed a joint statement during their meeting.
Additionally, a number of Ukrainian-Lithuanian documents were signed in the presence of the two leaders. In particular, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine and the Lithuanian Defense and Security Industry Association.
The joint statement revealed that during their meeting, the two Presidents agreed to continue working together in ensuring timely, predictable, and long-term military and financial support for Ukraine, including through the Ukraine Facility, the European Peace Facility, and the EU Military Assistance Mission in Support of Ukraine.
It added that Lithuania will continue providing military support to Ukraine through the Lithuanian-led coalition for demining assistance to Ukraine, weapons and equipment supplies, as well as training.
Also, Lithuania will assist Ukraine through cooperation of defense industries, including joint ventures, localizing production in Ukraine, and promoting information exchange on respective defense-related research and development efforts.
Both countries will step up their efforts in encouraging other allies and international partners to meet the same level of support to Ukraine.
In the face of continued Russian attacks against Ukrainian civilians, civilian and critical infrastructure, Lithuania reiterated its readiness to continue providing Ukraine with humanitarian assistance and other support to ensure the resilience of Ukraine’s energy sector through the winter.
Last winter, Lithuania was one of the top contributors of electricity generators, transformers and respective spare parts to Ukraine.
Moreover, Zelenskyy and Nauseda agreed to further increase pressure on both Russia and Belarus through sanctions, to seek their full and effective implementation and to prevent their circumvention in close cooperation with partners and allies.
The two Presidents agreed that Russia and its leadership must be held fully accountable for waging a war of aggression against Ukraine and for other most serious crimes under international law.
They reaffirmed their support to the ongoing ICC investigations, including against Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, and called for further investigations into the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Ukraine by Russia and its accomplice Belarus.
They also emphasized that the Special International Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine must have a wide international legitimacy and be able to reach and prosecute Russia’s and Belarus’ highest political and military leadership for the crime of aggression.
Zelenskyy Says Western Hesitation On Aid To Ukraine Helps Putin
Also at the news conference in Vilnius, Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that any delays in Western aid to Kyiv emboldens the Kremlin.
“He [Russian President Vladimir Putin] is not going to stop,” Zelenskyy said, adding, “He wants to occupy us completely.”
Zelenskyy asserted that Putin would not stop at Ukraine but would attack other neighbours unless allies joined forces to stop him.
“He [Putin] won’t finish this [war[ until we all finish him together,” the Ukrainian leader said.
He added, “We must understand that Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Moldova may be next if we [Ukraine] do not withstand [Russia].”
His comments came as Ukraine faced renewed aerial assaults from Russia, prompting pleas for more support to Kyiv, which Zelenskyy says is “sorely lacking” modern air-defence systems.
Zelenskyy said that in recent days, Russia has hit Ukraine with a total of 500 devices, adding that 70% of these were destroyed.
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