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Taiwan Joins Demining Coalition for Ukraine With $2 Million Contribution
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
Taiwan will contribute $2 million to the international demining coalition for Ukraine, a fund spearheaded by Lithuania and Iceland, the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense announced on May 12.
The announcement followed talks between Lithuania’s defense officials and the Taiwanese Representative Office in Vilnius, with a strong focus on supporting Ukraine’s demining operations.
“During the meeting, Taiwan expressed its intention to contribute to Lithuania’s efforts in demining Ukraine and will allocate $2 million to the Coalition Fund,” the statement said.
Officials emphasized the importance of Taiwan’s cooperation with coalition members, describing it as a practical way for democratic nations to work together on targeted initiatives that support Ukraine’s security and reconstruction.
“Taiwan and Lithuania both recognize the importance and urgency of cooperation in addressing demining efforts in Ukraine. Both sides acknowledged that unexploded ordnance and other remnants of war pose a serious threat to civilian safety and are a major obstacle to the socio-economic recovery of affected regions,” the Lithuanian Defense Ministry added.
Former Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen attended the signing ceremony in Vilnius and voiced her support for expanding Taiwan–Lithuania cooperation on humanitarian aid to Ukraine. She noted that Taiwan has already backed joint efforts with Lithuania to rebuild Ukrainian schools and kindergartens damaged by Russia’s full-scale invasion.
“These joint efforts have helped restore educational opportunities for Ukrainian children in war-affected communities,” Tsai said.
Lithuania’s Defense Ministry reiterated its commitment to supporting Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression, noting that the country plans to contribute €30 million this year to the Coalition Fund for acquiring demining equipment.
The contamination of Ukrainian land with explosives and war debris remains one of the most dangerous threats to civilians. There is also a growing demand at the front lines for equipment to clear enemy minefields and conduct defensive mining operations.
In February 2024, the Ukraine Defense Contact Group established the Demining Coalition—one of eight international capability coalitions formed to bolster Ukraine’s defense resilience. The demining initiative, led by Lithuania and Iceland, has become the largest of these coalitions, now comprising 22 member states.
Earlier, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense and the American company Tetra Tech agreed to jointly train Ukrainian operators of mechanized demining equipment.
