The President was given the floor at the start of the working session. In his speech, Gitanas Nausėda brought the attention of European leaders to the increasing tendency for historical revisionism.
The President pointed out that Russia’s efforts to falsify history should be brought into focus by all EU member states and institutions – and deserved a unified response.
“Russia’s revisionist efforts are aimed at dividing the world into spheres of influence and rewriting history, turning it into a weapon against the Baltic nations. We see these actions as directed against the sovereignty of Lithuania and other EU member states and against their independence,” the President said.
Gitanas Nausėda underlined that the Russia-adopted constitutional amendments, defending the so-called historical truth, its efforts to rehabilitate the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact and secret protocols, and President Putin’s public statements questioned the territorial integrity of the Baltic States and the very fact of their occupation.
The President reminded EU leaders that Russia’s efforts to divide the world into spheres of influence were totally irreconcilable with Western European democratic values. This could not be tolerated and demanded swift and effective response.
Gitanas Nausėda described Russian information attacks as a threat to Lithuanian statehood and reminded about the European Parliament resolution on the 80th anniversary of the start of the Second World War. The resolution calls on the European Commission to assume leadership and take united action against Russia for the falsification of history.
According to the President, historical revisionism is a threat as grave as other hybrid threats, including the Ostrovets nuclear power plant constructed close to Vilnius – which posed very serious danger to EU citizens.
“The Ostrovets nuclear power plant is a tool of geopolitical influence. Launching it hastily and irresponsibly into operation at the cost of nuclear safety as well as at the cost of own and neighboring citizens once again demonstrated the real reasons behind its construction. We must remain united and consistent – there can be no compromise with projects that are incompatible with the safety of EU citizens!” the President said.
Following the President’s speech, European leaders started negotiations on the new long-term EU budget and the European recovery package.
The President of Lithuania met with Estonian Prime Minister Jüri Ratas and Latvian Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš ahead of the European Council. The Baltic leaders exchanged their negotiating positions and agreed to streamline their efforts to receive greater funding for cohesion and direct payments to farmers.
