The First Official Foreign Visit of Minister of the Interior V. Kondratovič Takes Place in Ukraine
Minister of the Interior Vladislav Kondratovič paid his first official foreign visit to Ukraine, where he met with Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Ihor Klymenko, and participated in a joint meeting of the countries’ governments.“This visit highlights the strong commitment of Lithuania’s new government to continue supporting Ukraine in its fight for freedom and independence, as well as to back its aspirations for Euro-Atlantic integration. The interior affairs system will continue to provide all possible support to Ukraine’s law enforcement agencies and strengthen cooperation at all levels,” said Minister V. Kondratovič.
Lithuania’s Continued Support for Ukraine Highlighted in Minister’s Visit
The minister assured that political changes in Lithuania would not diminish the support for Ukraine – on the contrary, it will be maintained and, where possible, increased. Lithuania will also continue accepting Ukrainian citizens – currently, more than 75,000 Ukrainians reside in the country, with nearly 48,000 benefiting from the EU’s temporary protection status. In the coming months, the Ministry of the Interior plans to deliver significant material support to Ukraine: 100 metal detectors for schools, 4 anti-drone devices for the police, 6 vehicles, and equipment for firefighters and rescuers.
Strengthening Bilateral Cooperation Between Lithuania and Ukraine
Minister Kondratovič also emphasized Lithuania’s commitment to continuing initiatives such as training law enforcement officers and hosting summer camps for police officers’ children in Lithuania. During the visit, new avenues of cooperation were discussed. Lithuania is prepared to share its expertise in law enforcement and civil safety reforms and to organize specialized training for Ukraine’s border guards and National Guard officers.The minister proposed establishing the position of a Lithuanian law enforcement attaché in Ukraine starting in 2026, to ensure smooth collaboration and support coordination. Minister V. Kondratovič also invited Minister I. Klymenko to visit Vilnius. The next meeting between the ministers is scheduled for March 2025 in Tallinn, where regional ministers of the interior will convene.