Lithuania Intends to Send Troops to Ukraine

(MENAFN) Lithuania has announced its intention to send troops to Ukraine, signaling a potential shift in NATO-aligned military involvement in the region, local media reported Monday.

“Lithuania has decided [to send troops]. Specific numbers are being discussed – I will not disclose them – but we should recall our contribution in Afghanistan and move in a similar direction,” presidential adviser Dainius Zikevicius said in an interview with 15min.lt, as quoted by a public broadcaster.

Zikevicius confirmed that Lithuanian forces would not only be deployed to support Ukraine but also to contribute to training Ukrainian troops on the ground.

The announcement follows a strong statement from President Gitanas Nauseda, who on Sunday emphasized the necessity of sustained Western backing. In a post on US social media company X, Nauseda said military support is "vital" for Ukraine to gain leverage in negotiations.

Ukraine, he wrote, "needs real security guarantees, including reassurance forces with U.S. support & own military strength," while urging the global community to ramp up pressure on Russia.

Nauseda’s remarks came in the wake of a virtual meeting of the Coalition of the Willing Leaders, co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The coalition reiterated its backing of Ukraine and commended Zelenskyy’s "desire" for a just and lasting peace, ahead of his anticipated talks in Washington with US President Donald Trump.

Meanwhile, diplomatic attention remains fixed on the outcome of Friday’s high-stakes summit in Anchorage, Alaska, where President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met behind closed doors for three hours. Putin later claimed they had reached an "understanding."

Speaking to the media, Trump stated that major progress had been achieved during the talks, with most key issues resolved and only a few minor details left to finalize.

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