VILNIUS, Lithuania
Lithuania’s ambassador in Ukraine has said his country is ready to supply weapons to Kiev, which continues to face tensions in east.
"We are ready to help Ukraine by all means, especially military," Ambassador Marius Janukonis told reporters Sunday.
Janukonis underlined that his country wants to set an example for European Union member states on military assistance to Ukraine.
According to the U.N., the conflict in eastern Ukraine, which is in its second year, has created a humanitarian crisis affecting more than five million people, including 1.7 million children.
At least 6,417 people have been killed, and 15,962 others wounded in the conflict between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists since April 2014, according to the U.N.'s latest report.
The parties agreed to a Feb. 12 cease-fire agreement in Minsk, which calls for the withdrawal of heavy weaponry from combat areas, and of all foreign-armed formations; release of all hostages and unlawfully detained persons, as well as political reforms and decentralization in the eastern Ukrainian regions.
However, the agreement has failed to be implemented fully, with daily reports of breaches and clashes, and both parties blaming each other for violating the accord.
