Budrys in Brussels: We have not done enough to help Ukraine defeat the aggressor

On 23 February, on the eve of the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Kęstutis Budrys, emphasized before the meeting of the European Union (EU) Foreign Affairs Council that Europe had not yet done enough to ensure a Ukrainian victory.

According to the head of Lithuania's diplomacy, support for Ukraine must be not symbolic, but real-both in the energy sector, which is constantly subject to Russian attacks, and in financing Ukraine's defence and macro-financial needs, as well as in accelerating the country's EU membership process.

"We have not yet provided Ukraine with sufficient support to defeat the aggressor, although we could and can still do so. This is not just about Ukraine, it is about our own security and the future of Europe," said Budrys.

The Minister stressed the need to implement the previously approved €90 billion Ukraine support loan package and called for immediate progress on the 20th sanctions package and, once it was adopted, to start to work on the 21st one. According to him, there are still major Russian companies, including Lukoil or Rosatom, which are not targeted by EU sanctions, even though they were added to the US sanctions lists.

"We cannot continue to find ourselves in a situation where decisions are postponed or blocked. In its fight, Ukraine needs actionable measures and pressure on Russia-not just political declarations," the head of Lithuania's diplomacy stressed.

Budrys also expressed hope that a solution could be found regarding the currently blocked initiatives, but noted that the permanent decision paralysis driven by a single member state fueled debate over the future of the European Community's decision-making mechanism.

The Minister reminded that Lithuania has committed to allocate at least 0.25% of its GDP annually to Ukraine's security and defence needs and actively supports Ukraine's preparations for the EU membership through administrative capacity building and support projects.

"The Ukrainian people are fighting not only for their own security, but also for our security. It is our duty to support them in every possible way," Budrys noted.

Please, click on the link for the Minister's full statement here: Arrival and doorstep LT (Budrys) - Part 2