Foreign Affairs – On a shift in strategy: Ukraine can win a war on the defensive

Lithuania will send M577 armored personnel carriers to Ukraine in February, V. Zelenskis expects air defense from the West

Photo of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Archive/Armour M577

President Gitanas Nausėda announced on Wednesday that Lithuania will send M577 armored personnel carriers to Ukraine in February, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, who is visiting Vilnius, asked the West for air defense weapons.

“In January, we will send ammunition, generators, detonation systems to Ukraine again, and in February – M577 armored personnel carriers, we will train Ukrainian soldiers,” the head of the country said at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi in Vilnius on Wednesday.

The State Defense Council has approved 200 million as recently as last year. EUR long-term military support package for Ukraine, it covers the years 2024-2026.

G. Nausėda also said that he believes that it is necessary to ensure the continuity of the long-term support of allies and partners to Ukraine.

“In order to be able to help Ukraine, the entire European defense industry must work faster – speed up the revolutions and respond adequately to the complex security situation,” said the head of the country.

“The Western world must understand that this is not only a struggle of Ukrainians, it is a struggle for peace and freedom for the whole of Europe and the entire democratic world,” he added.

“He wants to occupy us completely”

V. Zelensky said that the stalling support from the West “only adds strength to Russia”.

“He (Vladimir Putin – BNS) is not going to stop, he wants to occupy us completely. And that inaccuracy of the partners, incomplete conviction about the result, financial and military support for Ukraine, the speed of their reaction, only adds strength and strength, courage to Russia”, said the leader of Ukraine.

“Until the Russian president destroys Ukraine, he will not rest,” he added.

In the United States, congressional Republicans are blocking the renewal of military aid to Ukraine and financial support from the European Union to Hungary.

Aiming for more air defenses

During V. Zelenski’s visit to Vilnius, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Lithuanian Defense and Security Industry Association and the Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine on defense and security industry cooperation.

Also, agreements on closer cooperation were signed by Lithuanian and Ukrainian companies, including “RSI Europe”, “Brolis Semiconductors”, “NT Service”, DMEXS and “Ukrainian Defense Industry”.

The leader of Ukraine hoped that there would be more such agreements in the future. He also emphasized that the lack of weapons is felt all over the world.

“There is a general lack of weapons in the world – not only for us, but also for the rest of the world, warehouses are empty, there are many challenges for world defense, that is why we are interested in joint production,” V. Zelenskis said.

“We will do this steadily, without waiting for the entire deficit to be created by itself,” he added.

According to the head of Ukraine, after Russia has conducted several intense missile attacks, Kyiv currently lacks air defense systems.

“What we can’t produce today with our partners in the near future is modern air defense systems, which is sorely lacking,” said the president. “Air defense systems are the number one thing we’re missing right now.”

Thanks for the support

As the Ministry of National Defense announced on Wednesday, Lithuania will transfer to Ukraine in 2024 vehicles purchased last year: trucks, pickup trucks, ambulances, various trailers and loaders.

Unmanned aerial vehicles, anti-drones, remote detonation systems, ammunition and magazines, warm clothing sets and various winter equipment will also be transferred.

Most of the latest support, according to the ministry, is focused on the needs of the Ukrainian demining coalition led by Lithuania, so various demining equipment, loaders, fuel trucks, ammunition, and dry food rations will be purchased. This support will reach Ukraine in 2024-2025.

By the end of this year, it is planned to prepare about 3 thousand Ukrainian soldiers, and the rehabilitation of wounded soldiers will also continue.

“To this day, the support of your state is extremely important for us – weapons, equipment, training of our soldiers. (…) All this gives us strength”, said V. Zelenskis.