The Prime Minister of Lithuania Algirdas Butkevicius has said that his country's leadership cannot decide to supply weapons to Ukraine until the issue is considered at a meeting of the Lithuanian State Defense Council.

"The issue should be discussed at a meeting of the State Defense Council. So far, I haven't heard about plans to hold a meeting anytime soon. No leader can make the decision without the council's meeting," the Prime Minister told journalists in response to questions about the statements made by Lithuania's Ambassador to Ukraine Marius Janukonis, who said that Vilnius planned to start supplying arms to Kyiv.

When asked about whether Lithuania had coordinated the arms supply issue with neighboring countries, Butkevicius said he couldn't answer.

Previously, Janukonis told Ukraine's Channel 5 TV that "some steps have already been taken" in Vilnius to facilitate weapons supplies to Ukraine.

"The political will exists, and Lithuania's top leadership has announced it in public. Some steps have already been taken, and we will continue to take the steps, including those in the direction of arms supply to Ukraine. I cannot elaborate but we're ready," said Janukonis.

The ambassador added that Lithuania's state agencies wanted to "demonstrate to other countries the principle of helping Ukraine by all means, including military ones".