“The Russian aggression can only be stopped if we expeditiously step up the supply of weapons to Ukraine and the volumes produced. It is vital that Ukraine continues receiving air defence systems, ammunition, UAVs, other heavy weaponry,” Vice Minister V. Semeška said about the meeting.
All the participants agreed that defence industry needed concrete capability planning and long-term contracts to make sure production volumes really grow.
At the forum, Vice Minister met with U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment William A. LaPlante to discuss the weaponry acquisition projects Lithuania and the U.S. cooperated on. They also addressed ways to expand and speed the assistance to Ukraine. The Lithuanian and U.S. sides plan to have contracts signed still this year for vital acquisitions for Lithuania: HIMARS rocket systems, Switchblade combat drones, Joint Light Tactical Vehicles.
Vice Minister also met with Assistant NATO Secretary General for Defence Investment Camille Grand and Director of NATO Office of Resources Anne-Marie Pick. The officials discussed NATO and Allies’ efforts to accelerate weaponry and ammunition production and acquisition programmes. It was agreed on actions concerning implementation of Host Nation Support infrastructure and joint equipment procurement projects the basis of the NATO decisions taken at the Madrid Summit on more joint funding.
