Prime Minister Meets German President in Berlin
Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė met with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Berlin today. The meeting focused on strengthening security and defence, bilateral relations, support for Ukraine, transatlantic ties, and other topical issues.
The Prime Minister expressed her gratitude to Germany for the country’s firm commitment to the security of Lithuania and the entire NATO eastern flank, and emphasised the importance of Germany’s leadership in striving for a strong, resilient and competitive Europe during this geopolitically turbulent period.
“Our strategic partnership is reflected not only in words of solidarity, but also in exceptionally important, tangible cooperation. We greatly value Germany’s contribution to the security of Lithuania and the entire NATO eastern flank, and the planned deployment of a German brigade in Lithuania has elevated our excellent bilateral relations to an even higher level. We also share the view that Europe must reduce its vulnerabilities, strengthen its defence potential and resilience to threats, including hybrid ones – Germany’s leadership in pursuing these goals is indispensable,” said Prime Minister I. Ruginienė.
The head of government also underlined the importance of the transatlantic relationship, noting that Europe and the United States share common interests and challenges, which can be addressed most effectively through unity and constructive cooperation.
When discussing the security situation in the region and in Europe, the Prime Minister stressed that only pressure on Russia and support for Ukraine, enabling Ukrainians to defend themselves and strengthen their position in the pursuit of peace, can compel Russia to end its aggression.
As Russia will undoubtedly remain a long-term threat to European security, it is essential to take all necessary steps now to strengthen defence and deterrence; therefore, Lithuania supports all European initiatives aimed at this objective.
The meeting also highlighted the close ties between the people of Lithuania and Germany, and the many areas connecting the two countries, from economy to culture. Prime Minister I. Ruginienė expressed the hope that unprecedented cooperation in the interest of shared security would also give impetus to deepening relations in other fields.