In his address to EU leaders, the President stressed the need to further tighten sanctions against Russia as it escalates the war in Ukraine by all means. Gitanas Nausėda welcomed EU’s agreement on an eighth package of sanctions, but at the same time stressed the need to tighten them in the future to include Russia’s remaining banks, diamonds, gas, and oil. According to the President, the fact that the EU countries have been able to agree on sanctions proves their unwavering unity on the issue of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Speaking on energy, the Lithuanian leader stressed that the current energy crisis required solutions not only at the national but also at the EU level. According to Gitanas Nausėda, the specific nature of countries such as Lithuania, which import most of their electricity, must be taken into account when seeking solutions.
“Decisions taken at EU level must ease the financial burden on citizens. We must remain united and understand that unilateral solutions are not sufficient to respond to energy challenges. A cap on gas prices needs to be agreed upon in order to reduce energy prices,” the President spoke.
Gitanas Nausėda also stressed the need to further diversify EU’s energy sources, increase energy independence, and invest in energy security, as well as to ensure the safety and security of critical infrastructure.
“The sabotage of the gas pipes reminded us all of the importance of taking greater care when protecting our strategic assets. Cooperation between the EU and NATO on this issue is vital,” the President underlined.
The talks between EU leaders during the informal European Council session will serve as a basis for the discussion at the EU Energy Council in Brussels on 11-12 October.
