Budrys: Ukraine's NATO membership is the best way to protect not only Ukraine, but also Europe

At an informal meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Türkiye on 15 May, Lithuania's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kęstutis Budrys, said he wanted the agreement established at previous summits that Ukraine was on the irreversible path to joining NATO reconfirmed in The Hague.

"The NATO membership is the best option to secure not only Ukraine, but also Europe," the Minister said.

According to Budrys, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy should be invited to the NATO summit in The Hague, which will be held on 24 and 25 June, to hear the strong Alliance commitment to support Ukraine's armed forces.

"In The Hague, we need to agree on 40 billion euros of military support for Ukraine, because the forces of this country are the first line of defence. We must support them, because it is an investment in the security of the whole Europe," said Budrys.

Ministers in Turkey also discussed the need to rapidly increase allied defence investments and ensure the necessary defence capabilities.