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The Minister met with Gordan Grlić Radman, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia, to discuss bilateral contacts, support for Ukraine, European security and defence, EU enlargement, and the situation in the Middle East.

Budrys emphasized that Lithuania and Croatia are linked by friendship and excellent cooperation within the European Union and NATO. The Minister thanked Croatia for its long-term and consistent contributions to the security of the Baltic region and NATO's eastern flank, specifically for deploying soldiers in Lithuania as part of the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group.

Budrys underlined that Lithuania sees opportunities to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in the field of defence technologies. The Minister emphasized that Lithuanian and Croatian companies are already cooperating, and by combining our experience, we can achieve even greater results, which would contribute to the security of both countries and the entire Europe.

Lithuanian and Croatian Foreign Ministers discussed the security situation in Europe and the Middle East region. The Minister emphasized that in light of the difficult geopolitical situation, European unity and strategic focus are very important.

"We live in a time of geopolitical tensions and serious security challenges. Our ability to act together as Europeans is essential. We must remain clear on our priorities – the focus on Ukraine must not be weakened," said Budrys.

According to the Minister, the future of European security is being decided today in Ukraine. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure long-term and sustainable support for this country. According to Budrys, it is necessary to strengthen Ukraine's negotiating position, unlock Europe’s €90 billion loan, and increase pressure on Russia with the adoption of the 20th package of sanctions.

The Minister said at the meeting that Lithuania's position on normalization of relations with Russia is not possible at the moment.

"A return to business as usual with Russia is impossible. Sanctions must be maintained and strengthened, accountability for war crimes must be sought, and Russia’s diplomatic isolation must be maintained. Changes are only possible when the Kremlin demonstrates its readiness to end the war against Ukraine through real actions," the Minister noted. At the meeting, Budrys emphasized that during its Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2027, Lithuania will mainly prioritise the enlargement of the EU, paying special attention to the progress of Ukraine's membership. The Minister also underlined that Lithuania supports the European aspirations of the Western Balkans, but stressed that enlargement must remain merit-based.