Lithuania to train Ukrainian soldiers, defies potential Russian backlash

In recent weeks, there have been alarming signals about the growing advantage of Russian forces in Ukraine. Although military aid from the West has flowed since the beginning of the conflict, the situation at the front has become complicated again due to Russia's mobilization.

After Emmanuel Macron's declaration of sending troops to the front line, Lithuania's Prime Minister, Ingrida Šimonytė, shared her observations with the "Financial Times". In her conversation with the newspaper, she says that she has the approval of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania to send troops to Ukraine, specifically for a training mission.

The small country, which has felt threatened by Russians for years, wants to help Ukraine win the war.

Šimonytė has no doubts that the Kremlin would consider this action a provocation. She also believes that the repeated threats from Russia about using nuclear weapons against countries helping Ukraine have no grounding in reality today.

If we just thought about the Russian response, then we could not send anything. Every second week you hear that somebody will be nuked - said the Prime Minister of Lithuania.

In the conversation, the issue of deporting Ukrainian men subject to military conscription was also raised. The Prime Minister of Lithuania denies that her country is assisting Kyiv in this regard, as it is not compatible with the EU's international protection system, effective until March 2025.

She added that Lithuania will not issue permanent residency permits to individuals who evade military service in Ukraine if the Ukrainian authorities can prove it. This way, Vilnius may discourage Ukrainians from escaping to Lithuania from their homeland.