Central Europe 3-nation force Ok’d for region’s peace tasks

WARSAW, Poland – Defence ministers from Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine have authorized their two-year-old joint brigade to take part in international missions for the region’s security.

The ministers marked two years since the brigade was founded in Lublin, eastern Poland, in response to security concerns after Russia’s seizing of Crimea from Ukraine. The brigade was given a banner and was named after a 16th-century military commander who fought against Russian forces. They also upgraded its role to allow it to take part in international military missions.

Poland’s Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz said from now on the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian Brigade will be able to take part in “all peacekeeping missions that are necessary in the case when peace is threatened” and guard the region’s security.