Budrys: the reconstruction of Ukraine is an investment in the security of Lithuania and EuropeActivities of the Minister of Foreign AffairsEuropean UnionNews of the[...]

On 21 February, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kęstutis Budrys opened the international forum "Recovery of Ukraine. New Opportunities and Development Scenarios" in Vilnius, dedicated to marking the fourth anniversary of Russia's war against Ukraine.

The head of Lithuanian diplomacy emphasized that Lithuania's support for Ukraine has been-and continues to be-strategic and long-term from the very beginning.

"Together with Ukraine, we will stand until victory and after it. Today's discussion is not about whether Ukraine will recover, but about how it will happen. It is about the opportunity to build a stronger, more modern, and fully European Ukraine. Ukraine's recovery is not a distant post-war vision-it is already happening now, together with Ukraine's fight for sovereignty," said Budrys.

According to the Minister, in 2024 Lithuania adopted strategic guidelines for its participation in Ukraine's reconstruction for the 2024-2027 period. These guidelines set clear priorities and ensure continuity and predictability.

"Lithuania is focused on practical, tangible support-projects that communities can see and believe in. We are rebuilding schools and kindergartens in Irpin, Borodianka, and Snihurivka. We are constructing modular housing for displaced persons. We are expanding rehabilitation centers and building dual-use bomb shelters in schools," the minister said.

According to him, this brings hope and strengthens confidence within communities. "When parents take their children to a restored, modern, and safe school with the European Union (EU) flag flying outside, this is not abstract geopolitics. It is a visible promise of Europe," Budrys emphasized.

The Minister also highlighted that Ukraine's recovery and its integration into the EU must proceed simultaneously. According to Budrys, Ukraine's EU membership is the strongest non-military security guarantee for both Ukraine and all of Europe. The accession process is a powerful engine of modernization; therefore, Lithuania urges accelerating negotiations so that Ukraine becomes an EU member no later than 2030.

Speaking about recent Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, Budrys stressed that these represent a deliberate and malicious strategy aimed at breaking the resilience and will of the Ukrainian people. He noted that energy resilience-the ability of communities to continue living under extremely difficult conditions-requires not only proper funding but also faster delivery of critically needed equipment, because speed saves lives.

"Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction is an investment in the security and stability of Lithuania and Europe. Support for Ukraine today strengthens the resilience of the entire continent. Lithuania is ready to continue working with partners to ensure that recovery efforts remain ambitious, coordinated, and focused on measurable results," the Minister said.

Since 2022, Lithuania's support for Ukraine has reached €1.7 billion, of which more than €1 billion is military assistance. Lithuania has also committed to allocate no less than 0.25% of its GDP annually to support Ukraine's defence and security sector.

Since 2022, Lithuania has also invested more than €52 million into reconstruction projects in Ukraine through the Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid Fund. Together with EU programs implemented by the Central Project Management Agency (CPVA), this amount exceeds €200 million.

At the beginning of last year, the agency launched the "Ukraine2EU" program, which supports the reforms, legislative harmonization, and whole-of-government coordination required for EU membership. The program has successfully grown into a multi-donor platform joined by Denmark, Sweden, Poland, and Ireland, with a budget exceeding €19 million.