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On 1 April  in Tallinn, Estonia, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis attended a meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Baltic states and France, whio discussed support for Ukraine against the backdrop of Russia's military aggression, further sanctions on Russia and key items on NATO’s agenda, including strengthening defence capabilities on the Alliance's eastern flank. The meeting also focused on Ukraine's European perspective, the humanitarian situation in this country and response to the flow of Ukrainians fleeing the war.

“It is now essential to maintain the unity of the democratic world. We must act in a coordinated and determined manner, do our utmost to help Ukraine counter Russia's aggression and, simultaneously, defend our values. This requires joint efforts to provide military, economic, humanitarian and political support for Ukraine, as well as to impose even tighter sanctions on Russia," Landsbergis said.

According to Lithuania's Foreign Minister, the strengthening of defence capabilities of the Baltic states must be one of the key priorities on the agenda of the upcoming NATO Summit in Madrid. “We have reached a stage where deterrence is no longer sufficient. We need real defence plans and strong forehead defence capabilities in our region. Decisions taken at NATO's next Summit in Madrid must reflect the new reality that has emerged," Landsbergis said.

During the visit, Landsbergis also participated in a conference organised by the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the role that small states can play inside the United Nations Security Council. Landsbergis highlighted the importance of small states inside the UN Security Council and recalled Lithuania’s activities within the Council in 2014-2015.

Lithuania's Foreign Minister noted that, as a member of the UN Security Council, Russia harmed the fundamental principles of the UN through its ongoing extreme and grotesque non-compliance with the principles and goals of the UN. Furthermore, Russia’s abuse of its veto right in case of aggression against Ukraine deserved the strongest condemnation.

Landsbergis also stressed that Russia's recent act of aggression should give a fresh impetus to a debate on the reform of the UN Security Council, including an attempt to curb the abuse of its veto power. In addition, Landsbergis stressed that the UN system must reflect an international order based on equality of all countries, regardless of their size, because also small states had to continue to actively defend the order also in the UN Security Council.

The conference was also attended by the President of Estonia Alar Karis, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Foreign Ministers of Estonia, France, Ireland, Latvia and other high-ranking participants.

Today, Landsbergis will meet with the French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in Vilnius.

Photos: The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania