Budrys at the Snow Meeting: “A strong Europe does not emerge from wishful thinking – it requires decisions and actions”
On Friday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Kęstutis Budrys, opened the “Snow Meeting 2025” in Vilnius, the 18th gathering of foreign and security policy experts.
In his speech, Budrys called on European leaders to take decisive action in response to geopolitical and security challenges. He stressed the need to strengthen defence and security measures across the continent.
“In today’s geopolitical climate, there are no simple answers, no cheap solutions, and no easy choices. We meet today to seek wise solutions for the pressing realities we face. Without collective thinking, we would not have collective defence,” said the Foreign Minister.
The Foreign Minister underlined that Ukraine’s fight for sovereignty and territorial integrity was a key challenge facing European security and emphasised that Russia’s aggression in the region would continue to grow. Failing to protect Ukraine today risks opening the door to even greater Russian aggression in the future.
According to Budrys, when Russia started the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Europe was still not ready due to missed opportunities and a hesitant, vague policy towards Russia.
“We missed critical opportunities to stop Russia when we could have. From the indecision at the Bucharest Summit in 2008 to our inadequate responses to the annexation of Crimea and the invasion of eastern Ukraine in 2014, the signs were clear. Yet, when Russia
launched its full-scale assault in 2022, we were still unprepared. Today, the situation remains dire: Iranian drones and North Korean
troops aid Russia’s war machine, China quietly supports its aggression, and Russia evades sanctions through shadow fleets,” said the Foreign Minister.
The Foreign Minister stressed that Russia, together with its allies among the world’s autocracies, was relentlessly dismantling the Euro-Atlantic security order to suit its ambitions.
“We cannot let this continue. The era of passive “sit-and-wait” strategies is over. The time for enjoying the dividends of peace
has passed. Europe must act. A strong Europe does not emerge from wishful thinking.
It requires decisions and actions. Decisions and actions—these must be the pillars of our new strategic culture today,” said the Foreign Minister.
Budrys pointed out that in view of the current security situation, special attention must be paid to increasing defence investment, strengthening NATO capabilities, boosting Europe’s defence capabilities and restoring a safe environment.
“Finally, we must be clear about our goals. Are we aiming to end the war or to end the aggression? That one-word difference carries
enormous political and security implications for Ukraine and the future of Europe,” noted the Foreign Minister.
For the Foreign Minister’s full speech, please click here.