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UPDATE: Polish, Lithuanian, Ukrainian FMs discuss regional security, COVID-19 response

28.07.2020 16:30
The foreign ministers of Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine discussed regional security and efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic when they met for trilateral talks in the eastern Polish city of Lublin on Tuesday, according to officials.
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  • Polish, Lithuanian, Ukrainian FMs discuss regional security
Polands top diplomat Jacek Czaputowicz (right) and Lithuanias Foreign Minister Linas Linkeviius (left) meet ahead of trilateral talks with Ukraines Dmytro Kuleba in Lublin, eastern Poland, on Tuesday, July 28, 2020.
Poland's top diplomat Jacek Czaputowicz (right) and Lithuania's Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius (left) meet ahead of trilateral talks with Ukraine's Dmytro Kuleba in Lublin, eastern Poland, on Tuesday, July 28, 2020.Photo: PAP/Wojtek Jargiło

Poland’s top diplomat Jacek Czaputowicz told a press conference after the talks that the three countries aimed to “create a flexible and effective platform of cooperation in Central Europe,” including through regular trilateral meetings.

Later in the day, Poland’s Czaputowicz, Lithuania’s Linas Linkevičius and Ukraine’s Dmytro Kuleba together visited a multinational military brigade based in the Polish city.

Jacek Czaputowicz (centre), Linas Linkevičius and Dmytro Kuleba visit a joint Polish-Lithuanian-Ukrainian brigade in Lublin, eastern Poland, on Tuesday. Photo: PAP/Wojtek Jargiło Jacek Czaputowicz (centre), Linas Linkevičius and Dmytro Kuleba visit a joint Polish-Lithuanian-Ukrainian brigade in Lublin, eastern Poland, on Tuesday. Photo: PAP/Wojtek Jargiło

The joint Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian unit, more than 4,000-strong and known as LitPolUkrBrig, achieved full operational capability in 2016.

It was formed to conduct peace-support and crisis-response operations and to help enhance military cooperation between the three countries amid tensions with neighbouring Russia, according to officials.

Photo: PAP/Wojtek Jargiło Photo: PAP/Wojtek Jargiło

'Threats resulting from Russia’s policy'

Ahead of Tuesday's trilateral meeting, Poland’s Czaputowicz and Ukraine’s Kuleba held two-way talks a day earlier to discuss “threats resulting from Russia’s policy in Europe and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the Polish foreign ministry said.

The two top diplomats also talked about Ukraine's cooperation with NATO and the European Union when they met bilaterally on Monday, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.

Poland's Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz (right) and his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba (left) meet in Warsaw on Monday, July 27, 2020. Photo: PAP/Marcin Obara Poland's Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz (right) and his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba (left) meet in Warsaw on Monday, July 27, 2020. Photo: PAP/Marcin Obara

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Source: IAR, gov.pl

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