Tri-national brigade moves step closer to fruition

Tomasz Siemoniak (Poland), Juozas Olekas (Lithuania) and General Stepan Połtorak (Ukraine) met in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv and agreed that the first joint exercise of the unit will be held in a few months.

The tri-national brigade was established under an intergovernmental agreement signed in September 2014 in Warsaw. It is mainly designed for peacekeeping operations.

The situation in eastern Ukraine and concerns over Russia's regional intentions were the key push factors in establishing the unit.

"We in Poland have high hopes in this brigade. We want it very quickly to start operating and very quickly to become a major platform for military cooperation between our three countries," Siemoniak said.

"We want the brigade also to assist our Ukrainian friends in reforming their armed forces," he added.

Połtorak said that the brigade will contribute to the training of troops and exchange of experience and would “serve the development of the Ukrainian armed forces.”

Olekas stressed that the establishment of the unit is an important step on the road to support Ukraine in a situation where fighting continues in the east of the country.

The Polish minister added that the brigade’s headquarters in Lublin are waiting for officers from Lithuania and Ukraine (over 20 per country will join up to about 50 Poles there).

Although the 4,500-strong LITPOLUKRBRIG brigade will have its headquarters and staff in Lublin, the national components will be stationed in their respective countries and meet for exercises and foreign missions. It will be used to fulfill tasks given to it by NATO, the European Union and the UN. (jh)