Lithuania does all it can to help Ukraine – PM Skvernelis

Skvernelis said this in response to calls by Gabrielius Landsbergis, the leader of the opposition Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats, to allocate urgent humanitarian aid to people in the eastern frontline town of Avdiivka and to step up political pressure on Russia over the Minsk agreements’ violations.

“Speaking about the relations with Ukraine, perhaps it’s difficult to think of what more Lithuania’s authorities and the government in particular could do (to help the country),” Skvernelis said on LRT Radio on Tuesday morning.

“In all formats, as regards the president’s statements and the position of the government and myself as the prime minister, we use every opportunity to address the topic of Ukraine,” he said.

According to the prime minister, humanitarian and other assistance to Ukraine “is provided continuously as needed”.

Ukrainian officials and Russian-backed separatists confirmed that at least 35 people had been killed in Avdiivka last weekend, a level of bloodshed unseen since the height of the conflict in 2015.

Russia, Ukraine and separatists agreed on a Sunday midnight deadline for the withdrawal of all heavy weapons from the industrial town of 25,000 on the front line of the latest fighting.