The arms that Lithuania can provide to Ukraine have practically dried up. The country might soon need to choose between continuing its support of Ukraine and maintaining its own defence capabilities, authorities say.
Ukraine has provided a list of equipment that different countries have and could send to Ukraine, according to Lithuanian Defence Minister Arvydas Anušauskas. Some have heavy weapons, while others have ammunition or spare parts for repairing equipment.
“Lithuania may not have much in the way of heavy weapons, but we do have some artillery capability. We have handed over to Ukraine heavy mortars along with ammunition,” Anušauskas told LRT TV.
Read more: Lithuania sends heavy mortars to Ukraine – minister
But Laurynas Kasčiūnas, chairman of the parliamentary Committee on National Security and Defence (NSDK), says that Lithuania has almost exhausted its military resources for supporting Ukraine.
“There is always a line where you have to consider to what extent a certain amount of support will affect your own defence architecture and capabilities. And this is where the army starts calculating,” Kasčiūnas said, adding that the Baltic countries have already sent a lot of arms to Ukraine and have a moral right to demand greater contribution from other Western allies.
However, Ukraine is fighting not only for its freedom, but also for the security of the Baltic states and entire Europe, he added, so “we should give something more to make this fight more successful for them”.
There is still room for Lithuania to support Ukraine, according to MP Dainius Gaižauskas, a member of the Committee on National Security and Defence.
“Lithuania is making uniforms and various equipment for the US military. We should allocate more funds to this, involving companies in certain projects. This is a medium that needs to be exploited,” Gaižauskas said.
Lithuania is also organising training for Ukrainian troops, teaching them to use Western weapons, which is also important support, stressed Defence Minister Anušauskas.
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