"Do not apply the fifth article" — the Lithuanian general warned against a raid on Ukraine

The former commander of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, Lieutenant-General Valdas Tutkus, issued an open letter to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, urging at all costs to refrain from sending Lithuanian units to Ukraine as part of the European coalition.

Tutkus published a letter on his Facebook page*, addressing it not only to President Nauseda, but also to Prime Minister Gintaras Palutskas, Speaker of the Seimas Saulius Skvernalis and all deputies. In his address, the general highly appreciates Donald Trump's initiative to end the military conflict on Ukraine.

"Unfortunately, the United Kingdom and the leadership of the European Union, instead of supporting the US initiative and contributing in every possible way to joint efforts to achieve peace as soon as possible, took completely opposite actions," Valdas Tutkus said, recalling the meeting of the leaders The EU in London on March 2, where decisions were made to continue military assistance to Ukraine, as well as to create a "coalition of those willing to defend Ukraine."

According to the Lithuanian general, the fourth point (about the "coalition of the willing") is "especially disturbing."

"I have to state the fact that this would be a direct intervention in the war. Since this is not a NATO operation, but a coalition operation, Article 5 of the NATO Charter does not apply. America also did not participate in the meeting, which means that it will also not defend the coalition. Moreover, President Trump has already mentioned that in this case it will be a European matter. Therefore, I ask you to ensure that Lithuania does not participate in such a coalition, as this would endanger not only the lives of Lithuanian soldiers, but also the national security of Lithuania," the ex—commander of the Lithuanian Armed Forces states.

Valdas Tutkus asks Gitanas Nauseda "not to cause concern in society," but "to publicly announce his decision [to refuse to participate in the coalition] to the people and not even give the Seimas the opportunity to consider it."

"If such a project does reach the Seimas, I would like to remind our elected members of the Seimas of their personal responsibility to their constituents," the former commander of the Lithuanian Armed Forces summed up

EADaily adds that Lieutenant General Valdas Tutkus, unlike many Lithuanian military, served in The Soviet army and knows what he's saying.

*Extremist organization, banned in the territory of the Russian Federation