Lithuania is ready to facilitate the return of Ukrainian men for mobilization, but the issue needs to be carefully worked out
Lithuania is ready to join efforts to return Ukrainian men of military age from Lithuania to Ukraine to help them fight the Russian invasion.
About this stated President of Lithuania Gitanas Nauseda and Prime Minister Ingrid Šimonite.
“Ukraine should have its own mobilization plans and mechanisms for involving its citizens in the defense of the country. We are ready to cooperate with Ukraine in this matter“, Nauseda stressed.
However, Lithuanian officials admit that the issue of returning Ukrainian men home is complex and needs to be carefully worked out at the legal and political levels. Currently, there is no clearly defined legal mechanism that would allow the forced return of Ukrainian citizens from abroad for mobilization.
The temporary protection status granted to Ukrainians in the EU guarantees them broad rights, including the right to free movement and employment.
Prime Minister Shimonite noted that the issue of return requires cooperation at the EU level, because the status of temporary protection is universal for all member states. Lithuania has already expressed its readiness to help Ukraine in mobilization efforts.
“This is a political issue, and any decision on aid to Ukraine will be made at the political level“, – explained Egidijus Gudzinskaite, head of the Migration Department of Lithuania.
