The president-chaired council will discuss "the security situation in the region in the context of Russia's instigation of tensions near Ukraine's borders, as well as the strengthening of Lithuania's security through national means and international format tools," Darius Kuliesius told the public broadcaster LRT.

"And, of course, the [the council will| assess our current readiness and adopt the necessary decisions for our defense," he added.

For its part, the government is on Thursday convening a meeting of the governmental National Security Commission, Rasa Jakilaitiene, the prime minister's spokeswoman, has confirmed to BNS.

"The agenda is related to preparations for Monday's State Defense Council [meeting]," she said.

Russia has reportedly amassed up to 100,000 troops near Ukraine's border, sparking fears in the West that it plans to invade its neighbor this winter.

High-ranking US and Russian officials are to begin two days of talks in Geneva on Sunday after Moscow laid down a list of demands for Washington, including that NATO should not accept Ukraine and other former Soviet republics,

Kuliesius told LRT that the governmental commission should discuss, among other issues, the security of Lithuanian citizens in Kazakhstan which has been facing an unprecedented wave of protests in recent days.

Under the Constitution, the State Defense Council discusses and coordinates key national defense issues. The council is chaired by the president and also consists of the prime minister, the speaker of the Seimas, the defense minister and the chief of defense.

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