Lithuania. Summit B9, Nordic States with the participation of Ukraine and the head of NATO. “The road of Ukraine to NATO is irreversible”

Greater expenses for defense, investments and building specific abilities in this area are issues that the leaders participating in the Summit in Vilnius agreed to. There were words about the “long -term commitment” of allies towards Ukraine or the actions of NATO countries that “scare Russia”.

In the capital of Lithuania, the summit of 15 countries – the Nine and Nordic countries – took place in the capital of Lithuania. Ukraine – devoted to, among others, increasing defense expenditure and preparations for the NATO summit, planned at the end of June in Hague.

The head of the North Atlantic Alliance participating in the talks Mark Rutte He said that “the path of Ukraine to NATO is irreversible.” He reminded that at the top of the alliance “in Washington, all 32 Member States agreed (ed.)”.

– There is no final date (…) it is a long -term commitment of 32 allies. We do not consider this issue to be part of a peace agreement – he noted. At the same time, he assured that “Ukraine would have everything he needed to win the fight and end this terrible, the assault war started by Russia.”

The head of NATO also emphasized that during the peak in Hague on June 24-26, the alliance members will have to undertake to increase defense expenses.

Striving to increase defense expenditure

After the Monday meeting – during the leaders' conference – the President of Lithuania Gitanas Nauseda emphasized the importance of a radical increase in defense expenditure and the broadly understood security of all members of all North Atlantic Alliance. “We believe that allies will be ready for this,” he said.

Nauseda expressed the hope that allies would do like Lithuania, which this year will spend 4 percent on defense. GDP, while from next year to at least 2030 it will spend a minimum of 5 percent for this purpose. GDP.

“We are not in the war, but we are not in peace either”

– We must do everything to develop instruments that will scare Russia and (tamoma – ed.) Her imperial ambitions, especially here, on the eastern Flanka NATO. Our today's conversations have focused on the need to raise our expenditure on defense and development of the arms sector – emphasized Polish President Andrzej Duda. The prime minister agreed with him Denmark Mette Frederiksen.

– We are not in the war, but we are not in peace – said NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, indicating that “the current security environment is the least safe for decades.”

– I expect that at the summit in the Hague, allies will demonstrate their permanent commitment to our joint defense, making a decision to increase industrial production in the defense sector and increase investment in defense – he added. He informed, in the coming days, defense ministers NATO countries In Brussels, they are to agree on “ambitious goals” in the field of military abilities necessary to achieve in a short time.

Zelanski's appeal

President of Ukraine Wołodymyr Zelanski However, he referred to the Sunday Ukrainian attack, as a result of which several dozen aircraft were destroyed in the bases in Russia, including strategic bombers. As he said, this mission shows what the modern battlefield looks like. He also emphasized the need for “continuous maintenance of technological advantage”. He also talked about Ukraine's abilities to design, build and use combat of various types of drones.

Zelanski appealed to invest in this sector. He assured that no country had such opportunities or experience in the unmanned aerial vehicle industry as Ukraine.

The president also announced that Kyiv and Moscow are working on another exchange of prisoners of war. He announced that the documents in this matter “were listed by the Turkish side.”

A commitment to support Ukraine

The leaders of the state also agreed to the need for constant support of Ukraine. – We must go from reactive help to solid military support – previously planned supplies of long -range artillery, advanced air defense systems and drones. Progress is necessary in the field of increased EU support for Ukraine, which aims to provide two million large caliber missiles – argued Nauseda.

Zelnski and Frederiksen pointed to the need to cover Russia with new, more severe sanctions. They both emphasized the importance of limiting Russian activities. shadow fleets. The head of the Danish government also appealed for a continuous increase in sanctions involved in reducing purchases and the use of Russian hydrocarbons.

Leaders were asked about reports about the possible revision or reduction of the presence of American soldiers in Europe.

In response, Rutte and Duda assured that during their contacts with representatives of the American administration they did not even hear suggestions about the possibility of such a step. On the other hand – as the head of NATO said – it is logical that Americans expect more involvement from Europeans in their own security. And, in his opinion, the more Europe's abilities they will grow, the more Americans will be able to focus on other key theaters of activities, including primarily on the Indo-Pacific.

Statement of Lithuania, Poland and Romania

After the summit, a joint statement also appeared, which was signed by the presidents of Lithuania, Poland and Romania – Gitanas Nauseda, Andrzej Duda and Nicusor Dan.

“We call all allies to take immediately actions and increase investments both at national and collective levels,” they wrote, among others. “In order to ensure the security of Europe, we call for maximum use of all the potential of cooperation between NATO and the EU and to further strengthen it, especially in the field of military abilities and mobility, by removing regulatory barriers” – added.

The statement also emphasized, among others, the importance of the security of Ukraine for the region or the pursuit of “pulling Russia to be responsible” was announced.

Duda's meeting with Zelanski

As a margins of the peak, there was also a meeting of Andrzej Duda and Wołodymyr Złenski.

According to the announcement, issued by the Zelanski Chancellery, the Ukrainian leader invited Duda to visit his country, while the Polish president announced that he would come there before the end of his term, which ends on August 6.

Duda assured that he consistently supports Ukraine membership in the European Union and NATO – the office of the Ukrainian president said. “You have been our friend from the very beginning, from the time before the start of the full -size war (with Russia). Thank you that I can count on your friendship. Thank you to the Polish nation for support,” said Zelanski, quoted in the document.

Previously, two presidents met at the inaugural mass of Pope Leon XIV in Vatican at the end of April. They conducted a longer conversation in January, when Zełenski came to Warsaw.