During the meeting, the President expressed his appreciation for the contribution of the Netherlands to the security of Lithuania and the Baltic region through the Dutch participation in NATO’s enhanced forward presence in Lithuania, as well as in the air policing missions in the Baltic states. President Gitanas Nausėda also welcomed the Netherlands’ continued support to war-affected Ukraine. According to the President, ongoing and timely military assistance to Ukraine is particularly important at this moment as it can be the key to Ukraine’s quicker victory over the evil.
“In July this year, NATO allies will meet in Vilnius. This is a confirmation of our unity and a strong message to the aggressor that we will defend and protect each other and every inch of the Alliance. It will also be an opportunity to demonstrate our determination to strengthen the security of the Alliance without leaving a single grey area in our defense. I believe that we all understand the importance of strengthening NATO’s eastern flank and we will take the appropriate decisions at the Vilnius Summit to confirm this,” the President said.
Gitanas Nausėda also pointed out that the security situation in the region dictates the need to significantly strengthen the forward defense. According to the President, it is also important to agree on renewed regional defense plans and increased defense spending at the Vilnius Summit. “Lithuania is in favor of NATO members spending at least 2% of their GDP on defense,” the Head of State underlined.
The President stressed that NATO leaders should send a clear message in Vilnius this summer that Ukraine belongs to the Euro-Atlantic security architecture.
“Ukrainians, who are fighting with their lives against the Russian monster, need to know that their country has a future which they will decide for themselves. That no aggressive neighbor will dictate to their country how to live and what organizations to belong to. I very much hope that as early as this year we will start negotiations with Ukraine on EU membership, as well as take a step towards even closer cooperation between Ukraine and NATO,” Gitanas Nausėda spoke.
The Lithuanian and Dutch leaders also discussed further EU actions to increase pressure on Russia. Gitanas Nausėda stressed that the sanctions policy had to be consistent and continuously stepped up until Russia puts an end to its aggression against Ukraine. The Lithuanian leader also underscored the importance of accountability for Russia’s aggression and war crimes, and thanked the Netherlands for its active engagement in this process.
