United to win: Lithuania plans to purchase short range air defense systems for Ukraine and ramp up support for weapons production

Lithuania anticipates a "favorable outcome" shortly for Ukraine's acquisition of short-range anti-aircraft missile systems and is prepared to further assist Ukraine in producing weapons, specifically long-range drones.

According to the Office of the President, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda stated this at a joint press conference with Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on September 12.

The leader of Lithuania mentioned that ever since the full-scale invasion started, his country has already supplied Ukraine with security assistance amounting to 647 million euros and has also committed to setting aside 0.25% of their GDP each year, which totals approximately 190 million euros, for this cause.

"We are also studying the possibility of acquiring short-range anti-aircraft missile systems for Ukrainian air defense systems. I hope that we will have a positive result within two to three weeks and be able to hand over these systems to the Ukrainians," Nauseda added.

In addition, during the meeting with the Ukrainian President, the leaders discussed agreements on defense cooperation: investments in the production of drones in Ukraine and co-production. Nauseda said that Lithuania is ready to increase support in this direction.

"All co-production and all investments in defense production are very important to us. This is today's priority. Now everyone can see how successful Ukraine is in developing and using its long-range weapons, its long-range drones," Zelensky noted.

For his part, Nauseada assured that Lithuania would continue to support Ukraine, particularly in the supply of 155 mm ammunition.

"Lithuania will invest 10 million euros in the production of the Ukrainian long-range weapon, "Palianytsia." We are interested in this and talked with the President about cooperation in the production of naval drones," the leader of the Republic of Lithuania said.

According to him, the Lithuanian-Ukrainian defense forum, held in Kyiv the day before, aims to strengthen cooperation and the Ukrainian defense industry.

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On September 11, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda and Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina arrived in Kyiv on a working visit. Her visit will last until September 13. Both leaders will take part in the Summit of the Crimean Platform.