“While President Trump might call today 'Liberation Day', from an ordinary citizen's point of view this is 'Inflation Day'. These unjustified, illegal and disproportionate measures can only lead to further tariff escalation and a downward economic spiral for the US and the world as a whole. Because of this decision, US consumers will be forced to carry the heaviest burden in a trade war. These tariffs will only make processes and manufacturing more inefficient. They have prompted damaging uncertainty in the investment climate. Stock markets could hardly be clearer in their reactions.

The EU will respond. We will do so through legal, legitimate, proportionate and decisive measures. As the EU we will consider which of the tools at our disposal are best suited for our response. We are not backing down. We will defend our sovereignty and we will not change legislation that we have shaped democratically and in the interest of EU citizens, even if this displeases some US billionaires. The countries that have been targeted by these measures must respond with a united front and send a clear message to the US to end this tariff madness.

I do hope this administration is genuinely interested in engaging with the EU, but I am not confident. I hope that our arguments and the firmness of our response will provide sufficient incentives to bring the US to the negotiating table. The EU's door will always remain open to finding a solution.”

Ref.: 20250402IPR27602
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During the meeting, Lithuania underlined its continued expert and political support for Moldova's integration into the EU, as well as strengthening Moldova's resilience to Russian meddling in Moldova's internal affairs and other hybrid threats arising from it.

During the consultations, much attention was given to the EU-Moldova negotiations regarding the country's EU membership, with a focus on the swift opening of the first negotiation cluster.

“Lithuania has supported and will continue to assist Moldova at every step of its path to the EU. We can still remember how much effort the EU accession process requires. We also know that the effort pays off in full. We welcome Moldova’s smooth progress in the accession negotiations and are ready to help the country even more,” Pranevičius underlined.

During the consultations, delegations also discussed the international response to the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine, the strengthening of Moldova's strategic communications institutions, the state of the energy sector in Moldova, and in Moldova's Transnistria region.

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“Until the very last moment, we hoped for a miracle. With deep sadness and sorrow, I received the news of the loss of U.S. soldiers who were found after perishing during a training exercise. Their deaths are a painful blow not only to their American fellow servicemen, but also to the Lithuanian Armed Forces,” the President said.

According to Gitanas Nausėda, this tragedy has affected everyone. “The armed forces of the United States and Lithuania, with the support of our Polish allies, worked tirelessly for countless hours in this complex search and rescue operation. Lithuanian institutions spared no effort, working day and night to locate the missing soldiers as quickly as possible. The people of Lithuania prayed relentlessly for their fate, as we consider American soldiers our own. In this difficult time, we feel even more committed to one another, and this challenging operation has demonstrated our strength in unity,” he stated.

President Nausėda emphasized the invaluable contribution of the United States in ensuring the security of Lithuania and NATO’s entire eastern flank. “The presence of U.S. military forces in our region is not only a guarantor of Lithuania’s security but also of the security of the entire transatlantic community. We remain steadfast in our commitment to providing the best and most suitable conditions for allied troops to train and enhance their capabilities,” said the President, assuring that Lithuania will continue to allocate all necessary resources to uphold the highest possible standards.

The President also expressed his gratitude to everyone involved in the search and rescue operation, and emphasized his hope that ongoing efforts would result in finding the fourth missing soldier as soon as possible.

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The meeting, initiated by French President Emmanuel Macron, will bring together more than 20 leaders from across Europe and beyond.

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The meetings are planned to address the security situation in the region, transatlantic and bilateral cooperation, assistance to Ukraine and achievement of lasting peace, as well as the agenda of the upcoming NATO Summit. Other topics to be discussed are security of undersea infrastructure, wider European engagement in collective defence and defence industry development.

The United Kingdom is one of Lithuania’s strategic security partners in security and defence. Lithuania and the United Kingdom develop close cooperation in bilateral and multilateral formats: NATO, Nordic countries’. One of such formats is the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), a capability for primary emergency response, including undersea infrastructure incidents. The JEF enables resource pooling, sharing intelligence and finding multiple common solutions to mutual regional security challenges. The JEF comprises maritime, air and land capabilities contributed by ten Northern European participant nations. Lithuania will be contributing capabilities to the largest JEF Exercise Tarassis25 this autumn.

The UK has contributed to the security of the Baltic region through the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states, leading the NATO Multinational Battlegroup Estonia as the Framework Nation and sending personnel to the NATO Multinational Battlegroup Poland led by the U.S.

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According to the Head of State, the ReArm Europe plan outlined by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is a crucial step in the right direction. The €150 billion defense fund—which allows Member States to borrow—along with the national defense financing clause, will provide a significant boost to the rapid expansion of Europe’s defense capabilities.

“We need a completely new approach to defense as the foundation for the EU’s long-term stability and prosperity,” the President stated, calling on all EU Member States to allocate at least 3% of their GDP to defense. He also emphasized that countries bordering Russia and Belarus require a more balanced approach, where loans are supplemented by grants.

Gitanas Nausėda underscored the importance of effective protection of EU’s external borders, particularly in the context of European migration policy, with external forces exploiting irregular migration to create hybrid threats.

Welcoming the white paper on the future of European defense, prepared and presented by European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius, the Head of State described it as another positive step towards making defense a core EU priority.

The European Council also discussed the role of the European Investment Bank, Cohesion Policy, and the emerging Savings and Investment Union in ensuring the sustainable financing of the EU’s defense needs.

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At the meeting, the Minister stated that NATO allies are united by a fundamental commitment to our common security, and Article 5 of the NATO treaty is its indispensable core. According to Budrys, it is important to continue nurturingt he transatlantic bond, as it is the foundation for of the Alliance's strength.

The Minister emphasized that Lithuania took takes its own and collective security seriously. According to the Minister, Lithuania's decisions in the field of security and defence testify to this.

“We are among the leaders in defence spending among NATO countries, currently allocating nearly 4% of GDP. From 2026, we will invest 5-6% of GDP in defence thereby increasing not only our own security but also that of our allies and the entire Alliance. NATO's strength is measured by its defensive capabilities and our ability to act together. Therefore, we must be strong and united,” said Budrys.

The Minister emphasized that, at the NATO summit in The Hague, it is essential to agree on a defence spending limit of 3-3.5% of GDP, as this would more adequately meet the Alliance’s needs compared to the current 2%t commitment.

"Europe must do its homework. We need to be ambitious in increasing defence spending, as this is the only way we can be secure. It is important that each country in the Alliance takes responsibility and demonstrates a strong commitment to our common security through its actions. This is only possible by putting money on the table and prioritizing defence. Words will not deter Russia, driven by imperialist ambitions, only NATO’s military power can do it,” said the Minister.

Minister Budrys met with the NATO Secretary General for the first time.

Dutch politician Rutte was appointed as NATO Secretary General in October 2024. He served as the Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 2010 to 2024.

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Minister D. Šakalienė will discussed the oncoming NATO Summit,, transatlantic relations, European security, training military reserve, crisis management, critical undersea infrastructure, assistance to Ukraine and other pressing topics. Visit

Minister will familiarize with the reserve system in the Finnish Defence Forces: the majority of Finnish men in the adult age between 18 and 60 are active service members, or members of the reserve or auxiliary reserve. The Finnish Defence Forces train approx. 22 thousand new military servicemembers, around a thousand of that amount women.

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"A sustainable and just peace in Ukraine must continue to be our priority. The Nordic and Baltic countries are among Ukraine's greatest supporters and are ready to further increase their support while, at the same time, ensure that Europe remains united in strengthening political, financial, and military support for Ukraine. Without a strong Ukraine, we cannot imagine our region and the whole of Europe as safe and strong," said Budrys.

The Foreign Minister also stressed that the Nordic and Baltic countries also share values and that the NB8 had set an exceptional example of open, modern, and result-oriented cooperation. It is in Lithuania's interest to continue to strengthen this cooperation and to jointly seek solutions to common challenges. The Foreign Minister emphasized the importance of the Nordic and Baltic countries' role in NATO, particularly in preparing for the NATO summit in The Hague. This includes the implementation of regional defense plans, the rotational air defense model, and increased defense financing.

Budrys also discussed with the NB8 Ambassadors a recent increase in attacks on critical underwater infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, by a shadow fleet associated with Russia. According to Budrys, we must tighten sanctions against such vessels and continue cooperation between the countries of the region in finding flexible solutions in line with international law.

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The meeting was initiated by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, and attended by leaders from Europe and beyond.

President Nausėda emphasized that, from Lithuania’s standpoint, the principle of “peace through strength” means that both the ceasefire and the final peace agreement must fully comply with international law.

“A peace achieved through negotiations must guarantee comprehensive and long-term security for both Ukraine and Europe. Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are not negotiable. Our immediate task is to agree on Ukraine’s security guarantees and the mechanisms for their implementation,” the President said.

According to Gitanas Nausėda, it is essential to ensure that Ukraine maintains a strong army – one of the most reliable deterrence measures on the ground – as well as a well-developed defense industry and an international military presence in the region.

“At the same time, we will continue providing military, political, economic, and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. We are committed to long-term support, allocating at least 0.25% of our GDP,” the President stated.

He underscored the need to discuss not only support for Ukraine but also the existential threat posed by the aggressor, Russia.

“The Kremlin is prepared for a long-term confrontation with the West. The only way to prevent war is through strong NATO deterrence and defense forces. Therefore, we must invest more in defense and agree at this year’s NATO Summit in The Hague that 3.5% of GDP for defense spending becomes the new benchmark for Alliance members,” the President said.

Until a peace agreement is reached and after it is signed, Russia and its accomplice, Belarus, must be deterred through various measures, including maintaining and strengthening sanctions, the President noted.

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