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In the coming days, Ukraine will receive a batch of Stinger anti-aircraft missile systems from Lithuania as part of expanding military assistance. Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonite stated this during a joint press conference with her Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shmyhal in Kyiv, as the press service of Ukraine’s government reported.
Read also: Poland approves free military assistance to Ukraine
“We are increasing the number of military instructors in Ukraine and will provide Ukraine with additional weapons and military equipment. I have informed the Prime Minister that in the coming days, Stinger anti-aircraft missile systems will arrive in Ukraine. I hope and sincerely wish that Ukraine will never have to use them,” Šimonite noted.
The Lithuanian government has created a needs assessment mission to assess Ukraine’s need for additional assistance from Lithuania and coordinate assistance in the face of Russia’s aggression.
Read also: Ukraine to hold military drills engaging Bayraktar drones, Javelin, NLAW missiles
In response to Russia’s aggressive actions, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia have decided to provide Ukraine with Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and Javelin anti-tank missiles. This assistance is provided with the permission of the United States government to transfer American-made equipment to a third party.
As reported before, West’s military assistance to Ukraine amounted to $ 1.5 billion.
Poland would send Ukraine its first batch of military aid this week. last week, Polish PM Mateusz Morawiecki stated that his country was ready to transfer tens of thousands of shells and artillery ammunition, “Piorun” anti-aircraft system, light mortars, reconnaissance drones, and other defensive weapons.
Amid the growing threat of a new Russian invasion of Ukraine, US eight planes delivered several hundred tons of weapons and ammunition to Kyiv. Earlier, 2,000 anti-tank weapons were sent by the UK. In February, Canada has sent a plane to Ukraine with a cargo of non-lethal weapons and instructors. In addition, the UK has sent 30 elite troops and 2,000 NLAW anti-tank missile systems to Ukraine amid fears of the Russian invasion.
Netherlands and Denmark do not exclude the supply of weapons to help Kyiv in deterring Russian aggression.
The U.S. has sold Ukraine Javelin missiles twice. The first sale was in 2018 (210 missiles and 37 command launch units), while the second sale involved 10 additional command launch units and 150 missiles. In January 2022, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania announced they have received approvals from Washington to send US-made anti-tank weaponry to Kyiv to defend Ukraine against a potential Russian invasion.
