Lithuania, along with Nordic and Baltic nations, is set to begin work this year on developing a Ukrainian brigade as part of a long-term initiative to train and equip Ukrainian forces, a senior Lithuanian official said on Tuesday.
Asta Skaisgirytė, chief foreign policy adviser to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, told Žinių Radijas radio that the effort, unveiled on Monday, is a key component of the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) initiative. The program seeks to provide training and equipment for a brigade-sized unit in Ukraine.
“Our goal is to commence work this year,” Skaisgirytė said. “While this will likely take several years, we aim to begin as soon as possible.”
According to Skaisgirytė, the initiative comes in response to a formal request from Kyiv. “Ukraine has asked its allies to assist in equipping and training its military units,” she said.
Specific details are still being determined, with military planners working on the timeline and individual commitments from each participating nation.
The NB8, comprising Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, remains one of Ukraine’s most steadfast supporters in Europe.
In a joint statement, the NB8 countries emphasized their commitment to bolstering Ukraine's defense capabilities, saying: “Our priority now is to strengthen Ukraine. Our countries are some of the largest per-capita contributors of military assistance to Ukraine. We will further bolster our support.”
Denmark and Estonia are leading the initiative, with plans to provide comprehensive training and equipment throughout 2025.
Norway has also pledged its support, with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre saying: “Every day for the past three years, the Ukrainian people have been fighting for their freedom. They are not just fighting for Ukraine, but for the security of Europe as a whole and for a world order based on international law and democratic values.”
“Our goal is to commence work this year,” Skaisgirytė said. “While this will likely take several years, we aim to begin as soon as possible.”
According to Skaisgirytė, the initiative comes in response to a formal request from Kyiv. “Ukraine has asked its allies to assist in equipping and training its military units,” she said.
Specific details are still being determined, with military planners working on the timeline and individual commitments from each participating nation.
The NB8, comprising Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, remains one of Ukraine’s most steadfast supporters in Europe.
In a joint statement, the NB8 countries emphasized their commitment to bolstering Ukraine's defense capabilities, saying: “Our priority now is to strengthen Ukraine. Our countries are some of the largest per-capita contributors of military assistance to Ukraine. We will further bolster our support.”
Denmark and Estonia are leading the initiative, with plans to provide comprehensive training and equipment throughout 2025.
Norway has also pledged its support, with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre saying: “Every day for the past three years, the Ukrainian people have been fighting for their freedom. They are not just fighting for Ukraine, but for the security of Europe as a whole and for a world order based on international law and democratic values.”
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