“Šimonytė told the Financial Times that she has permission from the Seimas to send soldiers to Ukraine for training purposes,” the publication says.
In addition, as Šimonytė said, Lithuania wants to help Ukraine to ensure that it “has the potential to renew its armed forces”. In this regard, Vilnius will refuse to issue residence permits for military service to eligible Ukrainian men. “At the same time, they will not be searched for or deported on purpose, as this is illegal,” the Prime Minister stressed.
Recently, NATO countries have increasingly been talking about direct intervention in the conflict in Ukraine. Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the possible deployment of French troops to Ukraine, and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron agreed to allow Ukrainian armed forces to attack Russian territory with British missiles.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called what is happening now an unprecedented escalation of tension that requires special attention and measures.
On Monday, the General Staff Vladimir Putin began preparing for the upcoming exercises, which will test the preparation and use of a non-strategic nuclear weapon. As noted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, these maneuvers should be seen in the context of recent statements by bellicose Western officials and destabilizing actions of NATO.
SN inf.
