OREANDA-NEWS. Ukraine and Lithuania will continue consultations on the reform of the Armed Forces of our country in accordance with the standards of the North Atlantic Alliance. This was announced by President Poroshenko during a joint press conference with President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė in Vilnius.

“During the meeting of the Council of Presidents, we continued the discussion on our coordination on assistance in reforming the defense sector of Ukraine in accordance with NATO standards," the Head of State said.

According to Petro Poroshenko, it is about participation of our Lithuanian partners as instructors and coordination in the framework of the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian brigade - the first military unit, which today improves the mutual compatibility of the armed forces of these countries. "Representatives of the three countries undergo respective training. We consider this activity to be extremely effective," the President said.

He also stated that the level of relations between Ukraine and Lithuania fully corresponded to the characteristic of strategic partnership. "Lithuania is a reliable partner, a reliable friend, including in support of reforms in Ukraine, as well as in support of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of our state," the Head of State emphasized, reminding that Lithuania, headed by President Grybauskaitė, had been one of the first countries to provide Ukraine with lethal weapons in 2014. "This was an extremely important example, which has been followed by a number of other countries," he stressed.

"It is very important that we have a common understanding that Russia's actions in the Donbas and in Crimea, the Russian hybrid war is a threat not only for Ukraine, and not only for Lithuania. This is a threat for the European region. This is a threat for the whole world, for global security. Therefore, our actions should be clearly coordinated and effective. And I want to thank Lithuania for the fact that during very effective coordination in international organizations, in particular, in the General Assembly of the UN, we are co-sponsors of the majority of resolutions that strengthen the steps for the de-occupation of the east of our country and for the de-occupation of Crimea," Petro Poroshenko emphasized.

He stressed that Ukraine also highly appreciated the efforts of Lithuania on participation in the special monitoring mission of the OSCE. The President said that the possibility of increasing Lithuania's participation in that extremely important project on providing objective information on the situation during the occupation of the Russian Federation and its aggression against our state had been discussed today.

Petro Poroshenko also informed Dalia Grybauskaitė about Ukraine's efforts to create an international group of friends for the de-occupation of Crimea. "It was nice to get assurances that Lithuania will take an active part in the process of assistance," the Head of State  summed up.

The President of Lithuania, in turn, said that her country would continue to help Ukraine counter Russia's aggression and provide assistance in the treatment of Ukrainian soldiers.