Prime Minister and EU Commissioner Ylva Johansson discuss EU security and threat resilience
Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė met with European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson to discuss EU’s threat resilience, security, support for Ukraine in its defence against Russia’s aggression, and the situation in Belarus. The meeting was also attended by the Minister of the Interior, Agnė Bilotaitė.
‘In almost two years of Russia’s full-scale war, we, as EU countries, have done much to help Ukraine defend itself, but there is still more we can do to help it win. With this as our goal, we must do everything in our ken to achieve it, as there is no other way to restore sustainable peace and security in Europe. If Russia, which has put its economy on the war path, is not stopped in Ukraine, it will become a much bigger challenge for all of us’, said Prime Minister Šimonytė.
Despite the difficulties in rebuilding its military capabilities, Russia's preparations for a long-term conflict clearly show that the regime will remain a long-term threat to Europe, the Prime Minister added.
The Prime Minister welcomed the European Council’s decision on an additional support package for Ukraine, which is crucial for the country’s defence.
Prime Minister Šimonytė and Commissioner Johansson discussed the situation in Belarus - an accomplice of Russia in its aggression against Ukraine. Lithuania remains open to the members of Belarusian civil society, persecuted by the regime, while at the same time keeping vigilance about the regime's threats to neighbouring countries, the Prime Minister added.
The meeting also discussed the Kaliningrad transit within the framework of EU regulations.