Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė has rejected reports that her country will assist in sending Ukrainian men of draft age to Ukraine. The head of the Lithuanian government revealed this to the Financial Times.
Šimonytė noted that the EU has guaranteed protection to Ukrainian citizens, including men, at least until March 2025.
“We will not organize deportations or search for Ukrainian men in the country because it would be illegal,” said the head of the Lithuanian government.
However, if Kiev proves that a man is evading military service, he may be denied permanent residency, Šimonytė stated.
According to the Lithuanian Prime Minister, she “aims to help Ukraine ensure that it has the potential to modernize its armed forces and allow people who have been fighting for a long time to rest.”
At the same time, Ingrida Šimonytė noted that Lithuania is ready to send its soldiers to Ukraine on a training mission. According to her, the Lithuanian parliament has already given permission, but Kiev has not yet requested it.
