Lithuania Buys Two NASAMS Air Defense Launchers for Ukraine

Lithuania has bought two Norwegian-made NASAMS air defense launchers for Ukraine and will deliver them within three months, the government said.

The announcement came as President Gitanas Nauseda arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday for talks with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.

“The NASAMS launchers will reach Ukraine in the near future,” Nauseda said on Facebook.

“Even in such circumstances, when the stockpiles are empty, we find opportunities to help our friends,” he added in a separate video release.

Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas said the deal with Norwegian firm Kongsberg was worth 9.8 million euros ($10.7 million).

The defense ministry said Norway will provide Ukraine with support equipment for the NASAMS launchers.

Lithuania will also send 10 M113 armored transport vehicles to Ukraine.

Along with munitions, which are set to be delivered later this year, Lithuanian military aid will reach more than 500 million euros, the defense ministry said.

The Lithuanian leader and Zelensky will discuss next month’s NATO summit in Vilnius, as well as Ukraine’s EU membership talks, Nauseda’s office said.

Lithuania and fellow Baltic states Estonia and Latvia have expressed staunch solidarity with Ukraine since Russia invaded it last year.

The trio spent decades under Soviet occupation before declaring independence in 1991 and later joining NATO and the European Union.