The expert expressed doubt about Lithuania's readiness to send military personnel to Ukraine.

Lithuania is more likely not to send troops to Ukraine, Vilnius' statements about its readiness for such a step are just an attempt to exaggerate its own importance. This opinion was shared with Izvestia on March 21 by a military expert, retired Colonel Viktor Litovkin.

Earlier in the day, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said that the country was ready to send troops to Ukraine after the ceasefire. According to him, other Western states should assume similar obligations.

Commenting on this, Litovkin noted that Lithuania has the opportunity to send some soldiers to Ukraine if the local authorities do not feel sorry for the citizens of their country. However, he added, "promising does not mean getting married," especially since Russia had warned about the consequences of Western troops entering Ukraine — it would be perceived as its occupation by NATO countries.

"Russia has already warned all such European dwarfs who imagine themselves to be generals, great Napoleons or someone else. We will strike at them, because we believe that this is the occupation of Ukraine by NATO countries. And we will never allow this," the source added.

He also drew attention to the fact that the United States stated that if foreign troops go to Ukraine as peacekeepers, Article 5 of the NATO charter will not apply to them.

"I don't think Lithuania will send troops to Ukraine. They're just trying to show their coolness by puffing out their cheeks. But nothing can be done about it," Litovkin concluded.

In the military style: The EU has become the main problem for resolving the conflict in Ukraine

Why are European countries interested in continuing the fighting

Earlier, on March 6, Nauseda proposed that the European Union allocate more than €40 billion a year to help Ukraine. He noted that Lithuania supports Ukraine annually and transfers 0.25% of its GDP to it.