Landsbergis at the meeting with Sybiha: “Europe protests against Russian attacks but still contributes billions to aggressor’s military budget”
On 13 September, during a working visit to Kyiv, Ukraine, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Gabrielius Landsbergis, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha.
“Ukraine’s victory is a top joint priority for all of us. We have to develop a clear victory strategy for Ukraine. The only way to achieve a just and lasting peace is to restore Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and irreversibly consolidate Ukraine in the EU and NATO,” Landsbergis noted at the meeting.
During the meeting, the Foreign Minister emphasized the importance of keeping the promises made to Ukraine.
“As Ukrainian heroes fight on the battlefield, we – friends and allies of Ukraine – still have a lot to do. Despite promises to help as much as necessary, our support with long-range missiles, defence systems and artillery shells is still not enough. Restrictions on the use of weapons transferred to Ukraine must be lifted, as Ukraine’s self-defence against the aggressor Russia is its fundamental right enshrined in the UN Charter,” Landsbergis said.
Landsbergis underlined that despite the international community’s protests against Russia’s attacks on civilian targets, European countries were financing over 10 per cent of Russia’s military budget of 63 billion euros by buying Russian oil and gas.
On Friday, Landsbergis also met with Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and Minister of Justice Olha Stefanishyna.
“We need to make Ukraine’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration process irreversible. Lithuania and the rest of the EU are ready to support Ukraine’s reforms. If we want to stop Russia’s expansionist wars, we must provide Ukraine the guarantees of Article 5,” said the head of Lithuanian diplomacy.
The meetings also discussed the situation on the frontline, priorities of military and diplomatic assistance to Ukraine, the accountability of Russia and its accomplices for aggression and war crimes, support for Ukraine’s reconstruction and prospects for strengthening bilateral relations.
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