News

On 12 May, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Kęstutis Budrys met with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe (CoE) Alain Berset, who is visiting Vilnius.

The meeting discussed the Council of Europe's support for Ukraine's reforms, the return of abducted Ukrainian children, the accountability of the aggressor Russia and its leaders, cooperation with the Council of Europe in strengthening the protection of European democracy and responding to threats posed by authoritarian regimes, including through the New Democratic Pact for Europe initiative, as well as prepared for for the Session of the Committee of Ministers in Chisinau, Moldova, on 14-15 May.

“Supporting Ukraine and holding Russia and its leaders to account for aggression, war crimes, and other international crimes, as well as reparation, is one of Lithuania’s top foreign policy priorities. The Council of Europe has already shown clear leadership, becoming the main political and legal platform to ensure accountability for Russia’s aggression. We are proud to be among the first countries to join the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression.
We are moving steadily towards ratification of the Convention establishing an International Claims Commission for Ukraine, which will make decisions on compensation for damage caused by Russia," said Minister Budrys.

Headquartered in Strasbourg, the Council of Europe is a regional international organisation that focuses on defending, developing, and implementing European standards in the fields of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. It is the only international organisation to have expelled Russia from its membership in response to its war of aggression against Ukraine. Berset has been Secretary General of the Council of Europe since September 2024. Lithuania held the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe from May to November 2024.