Ukrainian Defense Minister Umerov to visit Lithuania

VILNIUS - Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov is coming to Vilnius, Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas has told BNS.

Umerov will arrive in Lithuania on Friday and is scheduled to take part in the Armed Forces Day events in Vilnius on Saturday, meet with President Gitanas Nauseda and Kasciunas.

"We will discuss Lithuania's further support and their needs, what Ukraine needs most now, how they see the situation and how we can help," Kasciunas said, adding that he will also brief his Ukrainian counterpart on Lithuania's 2025 support plan for Ukraine.

Umerov was appointed as Ukraine's defense minister in September 2023.

Vilnius has provided more than 705 million euros in military assistance to Kyiv since the Russian invasion in 2022, bringing Lithuania's total support to Ukraine to more than 1 billion euros.

Lithuania is also committed to spending 0.25 percent of is GDP on Ukraine's security and defense each year, which amounts to around 190 million euros.