Lithuanian intermin in Kyiv, pledges more support for Ukraine

  • 2022-05-06
  • BNS/TBT Staff

VILNIUS – Lithuanian Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite is on Thursday visiting Ukraine where she, as well as the Latvian, Estonian and Polish interior ministers, met with Ukrainian counterpart Denys Monastyrski.

The ministers signed a joint declaration to expand cooperation and step up effort to ensure law and order and restore peace and security in the European region, the Ministry of the Interior said in a statement.

"Ukrainian soldiers and officers are fighting our war, therefore, we must help Ukraine defeat the aggressor. Every day that passes means hope that we can stop the war where it started. Since the very beginning of the war, we have been helping Ukraine and its people who have come to Lithuania. Together with our partners, we will continue reinforcing our commitment to support and strengthen Ukraine at this very difficult time," Bilotaite said.

Accompanied by Lithuanian Commissioner General Renatas Pozela, Bilotaite also introduced Ukrainian Minister Monastyrski to a team of Lithuanian officials and experts who will help to investigate war crimes, and also handed over technical assistance to the Ukrainian police. Lithuanian forensic and bomb disposal experts will start working in cooperation with Ukrainian authorities later this week.

Bilotaite also pointed out need to boost law enforcement cooperation between the two countries and to step up exchange of information on human trafficking amid a major influx of refugees from Ukraine as the first signs of possible human trafficking have already been identified.