Addressing the leaders of the European Union and Ukraine, the President stressed that the EU should take into account the fact that Ukraine is making progress in the implementation of reforms and the recommendations of the European Commission despite the war in the country. According to Gitanas Nausėda, negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU should start this year.
The President welcomed the decision on the EU’s joint procurement of ammunition for Ukraine. According to President Gitanas Nausėda, this will allow to provide faster and more effective assistance to Ukraine on the battlefield. The President also spoke in favor of increasing the funds for the European Peace Facility, which finances support for the defense of Ukraine.
Speaking at the European Council, the President pointed out that the decision of the International Criminal Court to open a case against Putin and to establish the International Center for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine was an important step forward towards holding Russia to account. Nevertheless, according to the President, every effort must continue to be made to establish a special tribunal.
Gitanas Nausėda also stressed the need to step up pressure on the aggressor and to start as soon as possible the preparation of an 11th package of EU sanctions against Russia. “There can be no sanctions fatigue. Talks about scaling down sanctions in one form or another are completely unacceptable. As long as Ukrainian blood is shed by Russia’s hand, we must continue to consistently tighten the EU’s policy of sanctions against Russia,” the President spoke, underlining the need to work with third countries to prevent the circumvention of sanctions.
The Lithuanian leader brought to the attention of EU leaders the alarming actions of Russia at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, which threaten the nuclear security not only of Ukraine, but also of the whole of Europe. The President stressed that another tool of nuclear blackmail at the hands of the aggressor is the Astravets nuclear power plant in Lithuania’s immediate vicinity, where incidents have repeatedly occurred, pointing to inadequate maintenance and system defects. This, according to the President, is yet another argument for including Rosatom in the EU sanctions package and for countries using Russian nuclear technology to give it up and seek more reliable alternatives.
Gitanas Nausėda also called on the leaders of the EU to give more attention to the situation in Moldova. The President stressed that this country was particularly affected by the consequences of Russia’s war in Ukraine and the influence of hostile forces, and that the EU’s support and assistance were therefore crucial. President Gitanas Nausėda added that the EU should provide more active support for Moldova’s Euro-integration aspirations and help with the implementation of reforms and European Commission’s recommendations.
During the Thursday session, the EU leaders also met with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres. The meeting focused on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and the assistance being provided, as well as on the export of grain from Ukraine.
