Lithuania has agreed to buy 18 howitzers from France, both sides' defence ministers announced Monday, as the Baltic country bolsters its arsenal due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Lithuania, a European Union and NATO member, decided to inject an additional 300 million euros ($312 million) into its 2022 defence budget as the Ukraine war ramped up security fears.

"Lithuania will buy 18 Caesar MarktII howitzers from France," Lithuanian Defence Minister Arvydas Anusauskas tweeted alongside a photo with French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu.

"They will significantly strengthen" the capabilities of the Lithuanian armed forces, Anusauskas added.

Moscow's attack on its former Soviet neighbour has spooked the small Baltic States, which fear they could be next.

Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia -- all NATO members and part of the former Soviet Union -- have come to Ukraine's defence with military hardware and humanitarian aid.

Lithuania has said it sent military supplies worth "tens of millions" of euros, including Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, mortars, rifles, ammunition and other equipment. Lithuanians also crowdfunded over five million euros to buy Ukraine another Bayraktar drone.

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Macron seeks bigger military budget in 'war economy'
Villepinte, France (AFP) June 13, 2022
French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday called for a boost to defence budgets following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, saying France was now on a "war economy" footing. Speaking at Eurosatory, a weapons industry fair, Macron said Europe needed "a much larger defence industry" to avoid relying on suppliers elsewhere for its equipment needs. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February, France "has entered into a war economy in which I believe we will find ourselves for a long time". Macr ... read more