You're reading: Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania sign agreement to form joint peacekeeping brigade

Ukrainian Defense Minister Valeriy Heletei on behalf of the Cabinet of Ministers signed an agreement to form the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian brigade LitPolUkrBrig.

Ukraine is to delegate 545, Poland 3,000 to 3,800 and Lithuania between 150 and 350 troops to LitPolUkrBrig, whose command would be based in Lublin, Poland, and the member contingents would remain at their permanent bases.

Before the end of 2014, an agreement would be signed to settle all technical problems.

The goals of LitPolUkrBrig are to raise confidence and step up cooperation between the three countries and make a contribution to regional security.

LitPolUkrBrig would also take part in UN-mandated international operations provided all three countries agree to this.

Other countries would be free to join the brigade.

The accord was signed in Warsaw by the Ukrainian, Polish and Lithuanian defense ministers, Valeriy Heletei, Tomasz Siemoniak and Juozas Olekas, in the presence of Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski, an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent reported.

“It is an example of effective practical cooperation amid new challenges and a new element of pan-European security,” said Heletei.