“Lithuania took up defence reform 20 years ago, and it is still ongoing. Now we share our experience with Ukraine. We encourage you to enjoy the experience of retired General Major Jonas Andriškevičius, the first Commander of re-established Lithuanian Armed Forces, which he shares through the work of the International Advisory Council for Ukraine’s reform,” Minister J.Olekas said at the meeting.
J. Olekas assured the guest that Lithuania’s attention to Ukraine will not diminish in 2017 and informed him that by one of its first decisions the newly elected Parliament of Lithuania approved the continuity of Lithuanian policy regarding Ukraine last week.
Lithuania’s Chief of Defence presented to his Ukrainian counterpart development plans of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, discussed ongoing military cooperation, the prospects of its expansion and Ukrainian armed forces’ reform.
Ukraine’s Chief of Defence thanked Lithuania for the assistance for Ukraine’s Armed Forces, contribution to training Ukrainian soldiers and consultations regarding the reform of NCO corps and development of special operations forces.
Later on today General Muzhenko and his delegation will meet with the command of the Lithuanian Special Operations Forces and visit the General Silvestras Žukauskas Training Area (Švenčionys distr.) and viewed the up-to-date Urban Warfare Training Facility opened this year.
Tomorrow, November 23, the Ukrainian Chief of Defence and the delegation will meet with Lithuanian MoD Director General for Capability and Armament Colonel Darius Užkuraitis and other MoD representatives at the Ministry of National Defence. The delegation will also meet with Ukrainian soldiers receiving post-medical care in Lithuania, visit the Embassy of Ukraine and meet with Ukraine’s Ambassador in Lithuania HE Volodymyr Yatsenkivskyi.
The guests will also attend a formation in the Cathedral Square celebrating Lithuanian Armed Forces Day and the 98th anniversary of the re-establishment of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
General Muzhenko arrived together with Lieutenant General Leonid Holopatiuk, Chief of General Directorate for Military Cooperation and Peacekeeping of the General Staff, and representatives of Ukraine’s special operations forces, while in Lithuania they are accompanied by Ukraine’s Ambassador in Lithuania HE Volodymyr Yatsenkivskyi.
Lithuania supports independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine from the beginning of the Russian military aggression, and provides all kinds of possible and legally permissible assistance, including military.
In September 2016 the Lithuanian Armed Forces handed over 150 tonnes of unused ammunition to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Alongside other NATO allies Lithuanians participate in a programme of training regular ground units of Ukraine. Also, Lithuania continues providing support to the studies of Ukrainian officers and NCOs at military education institutions of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and the Baltic Defence College (BALTDEFCOL).
During the visit in Kiev on 18 April 2016 Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas signed a ministerial level agreement with Minister of Defence of Ukraine Army General Stepan Poltorak on development and implementation of training and mentoring programmes.
