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Lithuania's Foreign Minister Landsbergis meets with EU ambassadors: "We must support Ukraine until its final victory so that Russian tanks do not cross our borders"

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2024.01.10

On 10 January, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis met with the ambassadors of the European Union countries, who reside in Lithuania and are accredited to Lithuania. The meeting focused on the most pressing issues of EU foreign policy.

After expressing his support for the priorities of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU and for the common goal of strengthening the EU's leadership in the context of growing geopolitical tensions, Landsbergis stressed that only Ukraine's final victory against Russia's aggression would ensure European security and stability.

"When Russia does not change its goals in Ukraine and beyond, its war machine is fully operational - in Europe, we must finally give up the way of thinking that is dominant in times of peace and decisively support Ukraine until its victory - provide sufficient, timely and future-planned financial, military and political aid, continue to pressure Russia by adopting new sanctions packages, taking decisions on the use of frozen Russian assets for the reconstruction of Ukraine and ensuring the Russian government accountability," Landsbergis said.

The EU and the current Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU must take clear leadership without doubting their capacity to act decisively in the face of multiple geopolitical crises and pursue the overarching goal of ensuring continuity of support for Ukraine to prevent Russian aggression from expanding to the EU's borders.

The meeting also discussed the prospects for the EU enlargement process. According to Landsbergis, after its decision last December to start accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, the EU must take the next important step as soon as possible - agreeing on a clear negotiating mandate: "The enlargement of the EU is a process based on values and progress in the reform process, and at the same time it is the most successful geopolitical instrument of the EU, and I hope that by continuing the historic decisions taken at the end of 2023 on the opening of accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, we will start a real negotiation process without delay".

The Belgian Embassy in Poland organised the meeting, where Ambassador Rik Van Droogenbroeck, accredited to Lithuania, resides.

Belgium holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2024, from 1 January to 30 June. This semester's six priorities of the Belgian Presidency include defending the rule of law, democracy, and unity; strengthening the EU's competitiveness; pursuing a green and just transition; reinforcing our social and health agenda; protecting people and borders; and promoting a global Europe.