However, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis proposed creating an alliance composed of Western countries that would send military personnel to Ukraine to provide training support, ensuring their air protection."
After French President Macron once again talked about “sending troops to Ukraine,” NATO country Lithuania is ready to act.
According to reports in Britain's "Guardian" on the 9th, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis proposed creating an alliance composed of Western countries that would send military personnel to Ukraine to provide training support, ensuring their air protection." He stressed that Lithuania had already trained Ukrainian troops in Ukraine before the war, and now it can fully restore "this tradition".
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Landsbergis
According to a report by Lithuanian National Radio and Television (lrt.lt) on the 8th, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė told the Financial Times that she had received parliamentary approval to send troops to Ukraine for training.
Shimonit admitted that sending troops to Ukraine can be considered a provocation by Russia, but she added: "If we only consider Russia's reaction, we cannot provide any help to Ukraine."
Landsbergis was once called "one of Ukraine's most outspoken supporters" by US media. The Guardian said recent remarks by the Lithuanian foreign minister indicate that some parts of Europe support Macron's recent hard line.
“Before the war, our troops trained Ukrainians in Ukraine and we have been doing this for many years. Therefore, it may be feasible to restore this tradition,” Landsbergis said, “This may be an echo of the first step of President Macron's initiative ".
He called the proposal to train Ukrainians in their own country "more practical" than training on the territory of a NATO member.
"There is no need to transport them there, everything they need is there. Furthermore, instructors stationed in Ukraine to train Ukrainians could be protected by air defense."
Landsbergis said the move would tell Putin that "how we help Ukraine is not up to him. On the contrary, we will see what exactly he needs and adapt to the situation, because the situation will not get better."
He said the Lithuanian parliament authorized the government to send troops to Ukraine for training, but "it is better for Lithuania to provide training support as a member of a coalition."
Before the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, a Lithuanian soldier held training courses for Ukrainian soldiers. Source: Belgian website “Army Knowledge”.
When it comes to Europe's support for Ukraine, Landsbergis couldn't help but complain that recent European leadership on the issue has been "a bit haphazard."
"The Czech Republic, being a small country, has proposed initiatives to purchase large-scale ammunition for Ukraine. I hope that these large countries can take the lead in air defense and other aspects," Landsbergis said.
At the moment, although Lithuania is showing positive results, reports indicate that Ukraine has not yet requested troops.
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