New support package for Ukraine is being developed – Lithuanian defmin

VILNIUS - A new support package for Ukraine is being prepared, Lithuanian National Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas says.

He informed visiting Ukrainian First Vice Minister of Defense Lieutenant General Oleksandr Pavliuk, the Defense Ministry said on Monday.

"The lessons learned in Ukraine help us to develop our military capabilities in a targeted manner. We also take a firm stance to support Ukraine in every way possible and are preparing a new support package for Ukraine," Anusauskas said at the meeting.

So far, Lithuania has provided Ukraine with military assistance worth almost 409 million euros.

Military training makes a large part of Lithuania's assistance to Ukraine. This year, 1,600 soldiers are to be trained. Lithuanian instructors are training Ukrainians both in Lithuania and by also contributing to the EU training mission and international initiatives, such as Interflex. Moreover, there are plans to develop a mine clearance course in Lithuania in cooperation with the Nordic countries.

Lithuania is actively preparing for the NATO summit to be held in Vilnius in July, which will, among other important issues, seek to agree on Ukraine's membership prospect.