Translated by Ollie Richardson & Angelina Siard

15:21:02
28/08/2018

sputniknews.lt 1/2

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Pavel Klimkin stated during a speech in front of heads of the foreign diplomatic missions of Ukraine and UAF military personnel that Lithuania will offer its support to Kiev in the restoration of Avdeevka in the Donetsk region.

“Our Lithuanian friends intend to take specific patronage over Avdeevka. And not just patronage over a single object, but to see how exactly Lithuanian presence – and Lithuanians are our true friends – will be able to raise Avdeevka,” stated Klimkin.

Klimkin added that Ukrainian diplomats will strive to ensure that similar help appears in all cities located on the territory under the control of the authorities, as well as “all of Donbass after de-occupation”.

Earlier the president of the country Petro Poroshenko tasked diplomats with raising as much EU funds as possible for the restoration of the settlements in Donbass under Kiev’s control.

In the spring the Prime Minister of Lithuania Saulius Skvernelis visited Donbass. He visited an ambulance station in Avdeevka that had been repaired using the money of the Lithuanian government, and also a playground built using the funds raised by volunteers in Lithuania. Skvernelis also called on European Union countries to invest in the regions of Ukraine that have suffered because of the conflict, in particular in the development of infrastructure.

During an interview with Sputnik Lithuania the president of the Center for System Analysis and Forecasting Rostislav Ishchenko said that the Baltic republics, including Lithuania, are involved in the situation in Ukraine more than other European Union countries.

“It is possible that Klimkin managed to reach an agreement with the Lithuanians so that they undertake financial and economic patronage over a certain area, i.e., over Avdeevka. But let’s wait and see, because as is known, in Ukraine a lot of things are said, but things don’t always happen as promised. After all, the Baltic states, and Lithuania in particular, are much more engaged in Ukrainian issues than all other EU countries. Nominal patronage doesn’t mean that Lithuania must turn Avdeevka into Abu Dhabi. It can be some symbolical steps that will be used for propaganda,” noted Ishchenko.

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