Lithuania has pledged to support Ukraine’s defence industry and will allocate the initial 10 million euros for the production of the Ukrainian Palianytsia drones under a cooperation agreement signed by Lithuanian and Ukrainian Defence ministers in Vilnius on Saturday.
“The signed agreement is the legal basis for the Defence Ministry’s money transfer for Ukrainian-made weapons,” Lithuanian Defence Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas told a press conference on Saturday.
Under the agreement, Lithuania will set up a mechanism to support Ukraine’s defence and security forces through Lithuania’s financial contributions to the Ukrainian defence industry. Lithuania will look for ways to finance not only Palianytsia but also other arms produced in Ukraine and to localise Ukrainian production in Lithuania.
“This is a long-term commitment and we will continue to support the production of Ukrainian weapons in order to strengthen the country’s long-range ammunition capabilities,” Kasčiūnas said.
According to the Lithuanian Defence Ministry, the country’s support to Ukraine will include lethal and non-lethal support, contributions to different funds, the training and rehabilitation of soldiers. Lithuania also intends to rebuild Zhytomyr military hospital’s rehabilitation centre and provide expertise.
Lithuania will also contribute financially to the Lithuanian-Icelandic Demining Coalition fund, continue its participation in the Czech Ammunition Initiative, and purchase drones, anti-drones, and other equipment from Lithuanian manufacturers.
Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustam Umerov thanked Lithuania for its support and said he and Kasčiūnas discussed the Ukrainian military needs for 2025.
“Next year, we will not only continue our support to Ukraine [...], but we will also strive to ensure production here in Lithuania,” Kasčiūnas said.
In early November, the defence minister said Lithuania and Ukraine were talking about setting up a joint company to produce long-range weapons.
He now says the two countries are negotiating the establishment of a joint company in Lithuania to produce Palianytsa drone systems and other products.
“By localising Ukraine’s production capacities in Europe or Lithuania, we ensure production both for Ukraine and for ourselves,” Kasčiūnas said on Saturday.
Lithuania has provided more than 705 million euros in military assistance to Ukraine since the start of the war. Lithuania’s total support to Ukraine has exceeded one billion euros, according to the Defence Ministry.
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