Meeting with Finland’s Leaders, the Prime Minister Says: Our Countries Understand – Peace and Security Are Guaranteed Through Preparedness and Cooperation
During a working visit to Helsinki on Monday, Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas met with Finland’s President Alexander Stubb, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and the Speaker of Parliament (Eduskunta) Jussi Halla‑aho. While in Helsinki, Mr Paluckas also visited the Merihaka civil‑defence shelter.
“Finland’s experience and extensive efforts to strengthen its national security and resilience – especially its comprehensive preparedness model – are exemplary. We are interested in adopting the most successful elements of that model in Lithuania.
Our two countries understand perfectly that peace – as well as national and regional security – rests on readiness – our own responsibility – and on close partnership among allies. We therefore must keep working consistently on both fronts. It is particularly gratifying that Lithuania and Finland are like‑minded in both word and deed, whether we cooperate within the EU, NATO or the Nordic‑Baltic Eight,” said Prime Minister Paluckas.
The meetings highlighted that safeguarding critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, protecting external borders from illegal, instrumentalised migration, building resilience to a wide spectrum of hybrid threats and improving military mobility in the region all require joint, closely co‑ordinated action.
Because Russia will remain a long‑term threat, the need for close co‑operation among all allies is growing; defence spending of at least 3.5 per cent of GDP is also necessary, and we hope to see that commitment secured at the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague, the prime minister noted.
Lithuania and Finland have stood with Ukraine from the very start of Russia’s military aggression – an aggression Russia clearly shows no intention of ending, the prime minister said. It is therefore essential to maintain and increase pressure on Russia through sanctions, including against the aggressor’s shadow fleet, and to pursue accountability for Russia’s crimes in Ukraine.
The discussions covered support for Ukraine and the need to urge allies to do likewise, while striving for a sustainable, just and genuine peace that would not merely provide Russia a pause or breathing‑space.
The talks also underscored the importance of strong trans‑Atlantic ties with the United States.
On current EU agenda items, the participants affirmed their support for EU enlargement – membership for Ukraine and Moldova, as well as the Western Balkans.
The EU also needs decisions that boost competitiveness, reduce administrative burdens on business and simplify the development of innovations. Co‑operation to improve conditions for the growth of Europe’s defence industry is especially relevant, the Lithuanian and Finnish prime ministers stressed.
The meetings noted that Lithuania and Finland’s shared interests and proximity – geographic and values‑based – encourage deeper bilateral economic ties.
