Lithuanian–Polish–Ukrainian Brigade

Lithuanian–Polish–Ukrainian Brigade (abbr. LITPOLUKRBRIG; Литовсько-Польсько-Українська Бригада, ЛИТПОЛУКРБРИГ; Brygada litewsko-polsko-ukraińska) is a planned multinational brigade consisting of units from the Lithuanian, Polish and Ukrainian armies. An agreement on its creation was signed on November 16, 2009. The brigade was to reach operational status in autumn 2011, but a January 2012 estimate put that date at some time in 2013. Other countries are free to join the trilateral agreement.

Lithuania and Poland are NATO members, while Ukraine is not. Ukraine asked to join the NATO Membership Action Plan in January 2008 (see Ukraine–NATO relations) but shelved these plans early June 2010, however co-operation with NATO was not.

History
On June 14, 2007 during an EU Defence Ministers' meeting, Lithuanian, Polish and Ukrainian ministers agreed to create a multinational unit. In fall of 2008 the proposed unit type was specified as a brigade. The three countries did have experience in past joint military operations, most notably, through the Lithuanian-Polish Peace Force Battalion and the Polish–Ukrainian Peace Force Battalion. Lithuania and Poland are NATO members, Ukraine is currently not but requested to join the NATO Membership Action Plan in January 2008. On November 2009 a "Protocol of Intent" covering formation of a joint Lithuanian, Polish and Ukrainian brigade ("LITPOLUKRBRIG") was signed by Defense Minister of Lithuania, Rasa Jukneviciene, Deputy Secretary of the Polish Ministry of Defense Stanisław Komorowski (representing the indisposed Defense Minister of Poland, Bogdan Klich) and acting Defense Minister of Ukraine Valeriy Ivashchenko.

Planned organization
The 4,500-strong brigade will have its headquarters and staff in Lublin, Poland, with the national components stationed in their respective countries and actually gathering together only for exercises and foreign missions. Only its staff officers will cooperate on a regular basis. Once it reaches operational readiness (estimated for autumn 2011, with full readiness in 2013 ) it will be used to fulfill tasks given to it by NATO, European Union (EU) and the United Nations. The operating language of the brigade will be English.

Political ramifications
The agreement between Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine was signed two days before an EU summit with Russia aimed at increasing cooperation between the two. Analysts expected the formation of the brigade could anger Russia, because Russia is against Ukraine joining NATO. A NATO spokesman welcomed the Polish-Lithuanian plan, stating that cooperation may increase trust and capabilities.

According to Poland's Deputy Defence Minister Stanislaw Komorowski "This move reflects our support for Ukraine. We want to tie Ukraine closer to Western structures, including military ones".

In November 2009 Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza predicted the chances that the brigade will become a reality where larger if Yulia Tymoshenko would win the Ukrainian presidential election, 2010, and smaller if Viktor Yanukovych would win them. Yanukovych won the elections, but preparations for the brigade continued. Yanukovych stated on May 27, 2010 that Ukraine considered Ukraine's relations with NATO as a partnership, "And Ukraine can't live without this [partnership], because Ukraine is a large country".