Prime Minister meets with NATO Secretary General in Brussels
Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė has met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at NATO Headquarters in Brussels to discuss the most pressing issues regarding the strengthening of collective defence and security, support for Ukraine, and preparations for the NATO Summit in Washington.
‘Supporting Ukraine and strengthening our own defence and resilience is something we must continue to do, bearing in mind that a lack of resolve only emboldens aggressors like Russia. Its ongoing war against Ukraine and its predisposition to a long-term confrontation with NATO dictate the need for a significant increase in allied defence investment. This is the best possible investment for peace, as an aggressor will only stop when it sees the readiness and will to fight back,’ said the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister has added that as Russia continues its hybrid aggression against Ukraine's supporters, while planning and executing increasingly audacious kinetic attacks, all allies’ vigilance and coordination of actions is needed.
On the forthcoming NATO Summit in Washington, Ingrida Šimonytė has underlined the need to move as fast as possible towards the implementation of the regional defence plans in line with all the criteria. Strengthening defence capabilities must also be a priority for the Alliance, with 2% of GDP as the ‘floor’ - we must and can do more to build on it, strengthening transatlantic security, while greater investment in defence would also allow for faster support to Ukraine, the Head of Government said.
The Prime Minister has pointed out that Lithuania will continue to be an active supporter of Ukraine's full NATO membership, noting that the Washington Summit provides an opportunity to bring Ukraine closer to the Alliance, sending an important signal to both the defending country and the aggressor.