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Polish, Lithuanian defence ministers discuss Ukraine war, efforts to deter Russia

13.05.2022 12:00
Poland’s defence minister on Friday visited Vilnius for talks with his Lithuanian counterpart on regional security and efforts to deter Russia amid the war in neighbouring Ukraine.
Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak
Polish Defence Minister Mariusz BłaszczakPhoto: PAP/Radek Pietruszka

The talks in the Lithuanian capital focused on bilateral military cooperation and ways of strengthening the eastern flank of NATO, of which both Poland and Lithuania are members, Polish state news agency PAP reported.

During their meeting, Poland's Mariusz Błaszczak and Lithuania's Arvydas Anušauskas signed "a joint statement on the development of further military cooperation" as part of efforts to enhance regional security, according to the Polish defence ministry.

After the talks, Poland's Błaszczak said his country and its Baltic neighbour shared "the same assessment of Russia's aggressive policies" and were also "agreed that the free world must do everything to stop" Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

"That is why we are supporting Ukraine and working for the eastern flank of the NATO alliance to be strengthened," Błaszczak said at a joint news conference with Anušauskas.

He also told reporters that Poland was "enthusiastic" about the prospect of expanding the Western military alliance to include Finland and Sweden.

"Poland is ready to immediately ratify a treaty of accession for both Finland and Sweden to join the NATO alliance," Błaszczak declared in Vilnius.

A day earlier, Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki welcomed a statement by Finnish leaders that their country should apply to become a member of NATO amid Russia's war against Ukraine.

(gs)

Source: PAP