With conflict in Middle East over, it's time to stop war in Ukraine – Lithuanian MFA
Photo: Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
After the war in the Middle East has ended, it's time to focus efforts on ending the war in Ukraine. To achieve this, pressure on Russia must be increased, states Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague, according to the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"Although Russia claims to have a military advantage over Ukraine, let’s look at the facts. As of 2024, Russia occupies about 1% of Ukrainian territory. Every minute, Russia loses one soldier in the war it started. Its economy is on the verge of recession," he said.
Budrys reminded that Russia’s war against Ukraine has been ongoing for over 1,200 days. NATO allies must immediately ramp up economic pressure on Russia — first and foremost, by adopting the 18th package of sanctions against the Kremlin.
Another way to end the war, the minister emphasized, is by increasing military support for Ukraine, particularly by providing new air defense systems. Europe must invest in Ukraine’s defense industry and do everything possible to support Kyiv on its path toward NATO, which Budrys described as "irreversible."
NATO Summit in The Hague
The annual 76th NATO Summit began on June 24 in The Hague, Netherlands. Its plenary session is scheduled to take place on June 25. The main topic of the summit is increasing defense spending by Alliance members, with a target of 5% of GDP by 2035. Support for Ukraine is also high on the agenda.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is attending the summit and may meet with US President Donald Trump on June 25. On June 24, Zelenskyy held meetings with the Presidents of the European Council and European Commission, as well as NATO Secretary General — António Costa, Ursula von der Leyen, and Mark Rutte. He also met with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Fifth Column within the North Atlantic Alliance
Meanwhile, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán — an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin — vowed during his speech at the NATO Summit to block Ukraine’s accession to both the Alliance and the European Union. Orbán called this his "main objective."
At the same time, US President Donald Trump will not heed calls to strengthen sanctions against Russia, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He explained Trump’s position by saying that Washington allegedly wants to preserve the possibility of "negotiating a peace deal."
