Ukraine’s accession to the European Union is both a strategic necessity and a moral duty, as well as part of the country’s future security guarantees.
This was stated on Monday by Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda during a press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen near Lithuania’s border with Belarus.
“Joining the European Union is both a strategic necessity and a moral duty. EU membership is also a security guarantee for Ukraine. 2030 should be the target year for Ukraine’s membership,” said the president.
“Security guarantees must be reliable: a strong Ukrainian army combined with significant European and transatlantic presence,” he added, noting Lithuania’s readiness to contribute.
He emphasized that military aid to Ukraine should be increased, and sanctions against Russia strengthened.
“The 19th sanctions package should target key areas such as Rosatom, oil and gas, banks, and the shadow fleet. Lithuania is committed to pushing for the use of frozen assets. Using profits from them was a good idea, but not enough. This is about catastrophic losses caused by Russia. Human lives, infrastructure, buildings, transport networks… Russia, as the country responsible for this war, must pay, and we will persistently work to convince some skeptical countries still hesitating on using frozen assets, and we hope to achieve results,” said Nausėda.
On strengthening European defense, the Lithuanian president stressed the importance of military mobility, ensuring rapid movement of troops and equipment across EU member states. “We welcome the European Commission’s proposal to significantly increase funding for military mobility in the next multiannual EU budget and its ambition to further improve the relevant regulatory and procedural framework,” he said.
“The Baltic Defense Line and the Eastern Shield are not just national initiatives. They are projects aligned with shared European interests. The threats we face are real: hostile combat drones, hybrid attacks, and constant pressure from illegal migration on our borders,” explained the president.
He also noted that Lithuania needs €8 billion in loans through the SAFE instrument to strengthen national defense, reinforce the Baltic Defense Line, and support Ukraine.
