Vilnius decided against handing over medium-range air defence systems, as well as 155mm howitzers, to Ukraine, Lithuanian Defence Minister Arvydas Anušauskas said on Monday.
The decision was made during a meeting of Lithuania’s State Defence Council, called in response to the missile strikes in Poland. It is attended by the country’s top officials, including ministers and the president.
Instead of sending NASAMS air defence systems and the PzH 2000 howitzers, the council decided to continue to support Ukraine with ammunition.
“We have decided the further forms of support. We will provide the ammunition that Ukraine needs,” Anušauskas said.
According to the minister, Lithuania’s support to Ukraine exceeds 640 million euros, while military assistance amounts to over 232 million euros.
Laurynas Kasčiūnas, head of the parliamentary committee on defence and security, confirmed that Lithuania will be sending ammunition for the German-made self-propelled artillery, which is already operating in Ukraine.
According to Kasčiūnas, Lithuania would not have been able to quickly replace the equipment handed over to Ukraine.
“We need to know one simple thing – that is the production capacity, the state of the defence industry in the West,” he said. “Even if you have the money now, you will only be able to buy the product in a few years. We have to look at that.”
He also expressed hope Ukraine will not be disappointed with the decision.
“Our support to Ukraine is 10 times higher than the average support to Ukraine from other countries. [Ukraine] should not be disappointed in Lithuania because Lithuania is doing and will do its best,” he said.
Lithuania is among Ukraine’s highest suppliers of military aid in terms of the country’s GDP.
Previously, Chief of Defence Valdemaras Rupšys said that sending howitzers and air defence systems to Ukraine would erode Lithuania’s military capabilities.
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