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The EU needs to urgently find ways to provide for Ukraine's critical needs, says Vice Minister K. Aleksa

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence

2025-04-03
International cooperation | Security and defense policy

Vice Minister of National Defence Karolis Aleksa took part in the informal EU Defence Ministers' meeting in Poland today. The ministerial addressed the possible security guarantees for Ukraine, plans of member states to continue increasing assistance to Ukraine and accelerate training assistance and arming. The meeting was attended by Minister of Defence of Ukraine and NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska.

Vice Minister of National Defence K. Aleksa invited EU member states and institutions to continue increasing military assistance to Ukraine. Lithuania's military aid to Ukraine will make up approx. 0.3% of GDP. Lithuania supports the initiate to purchase and urgently deliver 2 million items of 155 mm ammunition, we have contributed EUR 13 million for the ammunition initiate this year.

Vice Minister of National Defence underscored that the EU had to find ways to meet of other critical needs of Ukraine , such as air defence, UAV capability and brigade training, without delay too. Lithuania proposed to clearly define the military aid targets with concrete deadlines, thus improving accountability for delivering on the commitment to Ukraine.

The EU Defence Ministers also discussed the defence and readiness improvement measures and increasing investment in the European defence industry, topics addressed in the European Commission's White Paper for European Defence - Readiness 2030..

"We support the White Paper and the way it is meant to improve the European defence readiness. We need to go full speed ahead with its implementation," underscored Vice Minister and added that the key shared objective of the EU and EU member states was to make heavy and quick investments in defence.

Lithuania will meet its defence spending commitments and is ready to cooperate with the European Commission to find the most effective ways of using the EU financing instruments.

Lithuania seeks to secure EU financing for strengthening the external EU border with Russia and Belarus. Vice Minister K. Aleksa also stressed that the EU initiatives developed to energize the EU defence industry had to ensure expansion of the defence industry, especially towards those states which were increasing defence spending significantly and planned sizeable purchase from European manufacturers.