G. Landsbergis calls on NATO to agree on long-term support for Ukraine, its path to the Alliance

The head of Lithuanian diplomacy is participating in the meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels.

“In the alliance, first of all, we must agree on long-term support for Ukraine, its path to NATO, and on the strategy of containing Russia,” G. Landsbergis said at the meeting, quoted in the ministry’s statement.

NATO ministers discussed preparations for the July summit in Washington, ways to define more clearly the coordination of support to Ukraine at the institutional level, the threat posed by Russia, the challenges of the Southern Neighborhood and cooperation with the Indo-Pacific region.

On Thursday, a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council will be held in Brussels, during which Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba will present the most urgent defense needs.

“The atmosphere of the meeting in Washington will be determined not only by our intentions or how we will communicate about them, but also by what will happen on the front at that time, what will be agreed upon regarding the start of negotiations on Ukraine’s EU membership, and other factors,” said G. Landsbergis.

On Wednesday, NATO ministers discussed a proposal to create a 100 billion five-year fund to support Ukraine.

Currently, it is proposed that the 32 NATO countries pay contributions to the fund according to the size of their economies, but some Western countries are still skeptical of the initiative.

The foreign ministers of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia also met with their German counterpart Annalena Baerbock in Brussels. Ministers discussed strengthening defense and deterrence in NATO’s eastern flank and preparations for the summit in Washington.

Ukraine is hoping for an invitation to NATO during this year’s NATO summit in Washington, but it is unlikely to receive one.

NATO declared last year that Ukraine will become a member of the Alliance when it fulfills the necessary conditions and is agreed upon by the member countries.

In Brussels, Minister G. Landsbergis will also participate in the meeting of the foreign ministers of the Nordic and Baltic countries (NB8) and the ceremony of the 75th anniversary of the founding of NATO.