From Reuters: Poland and Lithuania want to forge military cooperation with Ukraine to try to bring the former Soviet republic closer to NATO, Polish officials said. Under the plan, the three countries would form a brigade that could participate in international peacekeeping operations under the auspices of the United Nations, the European Union or NATO.

“This reflects our support for Ukraine. We want to tie Ukraine closer to Western structures, including military ones,” Poland’s Deputy Defence Minister Stanislaw Komorowski told reporters in Brussels after signing a letter of intent.

“This is also proof that Ukraine is taking seriously its desire for closer cooperation with members of the EU and NATO,” he said. (photo: Thys/Getty)