January 23, a distance meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group addressed situation of the battlefield, Ukraine’s most urgent needs and defence industry capacity.
“Lithuania has reaffirmed our persistent commitment to Ukraine. We must respond to all the needs of the war-torn country, their struggle is getting harder every day. Participants of the meetings have reassured about the continued assistance. We must keep our promises and ensure an effective, sustainable and long-term support to Ukraine,” said Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas.
The meeting participants also focused significantly on reviewing the activity of the capability coalitions of Ukraine supporters, including the demining coalition for Ukraine led by Lithuania. The donors had agreed at the previous Ramstein format meetings to coordinate military assistance to Ukraine by organizing it into donor coalitions so that the support is predictable and lasting and strengthened Ukraine’s military capabilities.
Ukraine supporters also announced next packages of military assistance donations at the meeting. Lithuania’s package of January is worth approx. EUR 22.3 million: deliveries of ammunition, drones, power generators, detonations systems, warm clothing are slated.
The 2024-2026 Assistance Plan of Lithuania to Ukraine plans earmarking approx. EUR 200 million for Ukraine-centered acquisitions. The bulk of the latest assistance is oriented to the demining coalition of Ukraine that Lithuania arranges, as well as for continuing training and rehabilitation of Ukrainian military personnel, contributions to assistance funds for Ukraine, repairing military equipment from the battlefield in Lithuania, and participation in other capability coalitions.
The number of Ukrainian military personnel planned to be trained this year has been stepped up to approx. 3,600. Lithuania has trained 2850 Ukrainian troops in different formats of the training assistance cooperation in 2023.