Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania formed a new international military unit “LITPOLUKRBRIG”
Kiev, Ukraine: The defense ministers of Poland, Ukraine and Lithuania signed an agreement at the Belvedere Palace in Warsaw on Friday to establish a joint military brigade to participate in peacekeeping operations and to strengthen cooperation in the region.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the President of Poland Bronislaw Komorowski said that the agreement – contribution to the security of the region. “We want to send Ukraine provided assistance for the modernization of its Army,” – he added.
New international military unit was called LITPOLUKRBRIG (Lithuanian: Lietuvos-Lenkijos-Ukrainos brigada,)
According to the Polish defense ministry, the team will be used in operations under the auspices of the UN and the EU. Among the main tasks – participation in international efforts to maintain peace, the strengthening of military cooperation in the region and lay the foundation for the formation of the European Union Battle Group.
At the meeting of defense ministers of the three countries, it was decided to form Polish-Lithuanian-Ukrainian working groups to structure the team.
According to the plan, Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine military units will remain in their places of permanent deployment, passing subordinate command of the brigade at the time of exercise and perform missions.
Brigade headquarters will be the Polish city of Lublin. There is already a part of the Polish command numbering about 50 soldiers. They need to connect several dozen officers from Ukraine and Lithuania.
This new team is expected to reach full readiness of the brigade in two years.
It may be mentioned that the idea of a Ukrainian-Polish-Lithuanian brigade to counter crises “LITPOLUKRBRIG” appeared in 2007. The defense ministers of the three countries signed a letter of intent on the establishment of such teams, in particular, to participate in peacekeeping missions of the European Union and NATO, in November 2009, declaring intention to achieve its full operational readiness in 2013.
According to preliminary agreements, the Ukrainian side is planned to allocate for the joint military unit 545, including 18 officers in command of the brigade, as well as military equipment.
With the advent of the new government in Ukraine and Russia’s military aggression after the issue of creating a brigade again become relevant. The project can be implemented later this year. March 20 hosted a special meeting devoted to the creation of the brigade.
