Lithuania continues to support Ukraine’s defence and security sector reform
On 18 May in Vilnius, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius met with the Minister of Defence of Ukraine Stepan Poltorak and noted that Lithuania supported Ukraine’s ongoing defence and security sector reform, as well as was ready to continue to provide all possible expert assistance in the process.
During the meeting, Poltorak informed Linkevičius about the difficult security situation in eastern Ukraine, presented the Ukrainian defence reform, thanked Lithuania for its support and requested to continue training the military of Ukraine.
Linkevičius stressed that Lithuania strongly supported the country’s aspirations for transformation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine according to western standards.
“We welcome Ukraine’s ongoing defence and security sector reform. I am pleased that we had the opportunity to contribute. We are well aware of the importance of the ongoing processes. Please, rest assured that we wish to continue to train Ukrainian soldiers and benefit from their invaluable experience, to provide military assistance, to treat injured soldiers and, along with NATO partners, to participate in multilateral projects aimed at helping to implement the Ukrainian military reform,” said Linkevičius.
Lithuania’s Foreign Minister called on Ukraine to continue the ongoing reform and to make use of all the tools and support offered by partners and allies. Linkevičius underlined NATO’s commitment to further develop the NATO-Ukrainian partnership. This year marks the 20th anniversary of close cooperation that started in 1997, as NATO and Ukraine signed the Charter on a Distinctive Partnership in Madrid. Since then, Ukraine has participated actively in many NATO-led international missions.
In 2015-2018, the Embassy of Lithuania in Kyiv is carrying out the functions of NATO’s Contact Point Embassy in Ukraine. The Embassy disseminates information about the Alliance’s activities and policies, organises public events raising general awareness of the Alliance, cooperates with local media, local authorities and non-governmental organizations.
Poltorak is visiting Lithuania on 18 and 19 May at the invitation of the Minister of National Defence of Lithuania Raimundas Karoblis.
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