WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland, Ukraine and Lithuania are forming a joint military unit that will be headquartered in Poland and will work to strengthen their military cooperation and will participate in peacekeeping missions.

Defense ministers from the three countries signed the act forming the brigade of several thousand soldiers on Friday.

The Polish Defense Ministry said the work on forming the unit began in 2007. It is to be headquartered in the eastern Polish city of Lublin.

The ministry said the unit will operate under the auspices of the United Nations, NATO or the European Union.

However, the ministry did not provide any more details or say whether the armed conflict in Ukraine would affect its work.

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