Ukraine Asks Poland and Lithuania to Close the Skies

The Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, Elena Kondratiuk, has reached out to the Marshal of the Senate of Poland, Malgorzata Kidawa-Blonska, requesting consideration of the possibility of protecting Ukraine's western regions from Russian missiles. The meeting, which also included the President of the Lithuanian Seimas, Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen, took place in Vilnius in connection with Lithuania's Day of Statehood.

“Today we discussed humanitarian protection for Ukraine; primarily, I mean protecting the right to life of Ukrainians. Once again, as two and a half years ago, Ukraine is pleading: ‘Give me the opportunity to live,’” Kondratiuk stated.

She noted that since the start of the large-scale invasion, Russians have destroyed or significantly damaged 70 percent of energy facilities and 250,000 residential buildings.

“In addition, I asked the President of the Lithuanian Seimas, Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen, to voice this request at the NATO spokespersons' summit, which will take place in Washington on Monday, ahead of NATO's anniversary summit,” Kondratiuk added.

Representatives from Poland and Lithuania have promised to do everything possible to address the issue of Ukraine's sky protection.

“If NATO is not ready to accept Ukraine into its ranks under wartime conditions, we must demand sufficient resources from the alliance's countries to deter and defeat the enemy and ensure the right to life for Ukrainians,” emphasized Elena Kondratiuk.