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The President in Munich: Ukraine's victory has to be the goal of all democratic countries

President of the Republic of Lithuania

February 17, 2023

On Friday, President Gitanas Nausėda participated in a panel discussion at the Munich Security Conference, where he stressed that the most important common goal of the democratic world today was Ukraine's victory over the aggressor Russia, and that the fundamental pillars for this victory were a strong transatlantic bond and a determination to defend democratic values.

Addressing the heads of state and security experts assembled in Germany, the President stressed that even as Ukraine achieved victory on the battlefield, Russia's threat to the continent would not disappear, and that European countries therefore needed to step up their defense spending commitments to ensure the robustness and effectiveness of deterrence and defense.

The President of Lithuania took part in the public debate together with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and US Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

"The most brutal aggression against Ukraine wasn't unexpected. Putin for years was loud and clear on his aims and grievances over the lost Soviet Empire. We have heard him speaking about same things also in Munich, back in 2007. Do you remember? Ukraine has always been an indispensable element in Putin's imperialistic vision. If Putin succeeds in Ukraine, this aggression will continue. No illusions about that," Gitanas Nausėda spoke.

The Lithuanian leader pointed out that it was the duty of the entire progressive and democratic world to help Ukraine win this war, and one of the most important elements of this victory was a strong and irreplaceable transatlantic bond and the leadership of the United States of America in ensuring European security.

"We are navigating through difficult times. We only have as much time as Ukraine is winning for us on the battlefield, and we have no right to waste it," President Gitanas Nausėda told the international community at the Munich Security Conference.

In his address to world leaders, the Lithuanian President stressed the importance and the main objectives of the NATO Summit in Vilnius in July this year, namely, the implementation of forward defense in the Baltic region and on the Alliance's eastern flank, the approval of renewed defense plans, and increasing defense budgets.