News

On 1 April, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis met with the French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, who was paying a working visit to Vilnius. During the meeting, the Foreign Ministers discussed bilateral relations between Lithuania and France, preparations for NATO's next Summit in Madrid, strengthening NATO's defence capabilities on its eastern flank, as well as military, humanitarian and political support for Ukraine, possible new sanctions on Russia, ties with Belarus and China, and cooperation within the framework of international operations and missions.

“We appreciate France’s contribution to the strengthening of security in the entire region. Lithuania is interested in deepening cooperation with France in the fields of security and defence,” Landsbergis noted.

Lithuania's Foreign Minister thanked France for its leadership in bringing the EU member states together to work in response to Russia's aggression in Ukraine. “Both Lithuania and France are sparing no effort to help Ukraine. We call on other countries to follow this example,” Landsbergis said.

“We always knew that the Russian regime could decide to do this, although many in Europe did not want to believe it. After February 24, after the developments in Mariupol and other cities of Ukraine, we can never return to ”normal“ relations with the current regime. Its  actions are criminal, and this must be publicly and loudly stated,” Landsbergis said, emphasizing that it was necessary to continue exerting pressure on Russia to stop the killing of innocent people in Ukraine.  

“I am glad that, together with France, we are similarly viewing a new reality that has emerged after the beginning of the Russian war against Ukraine. The Alliance needs a new security strategy that reflects this new reality. We hope that decisions taken at NATO's Summit in Madrid in June will further strengthen the Alliance’s defence capabilities in the Baltic states", Landsbergis said.
 
During his visit to Lithuania, Le Drian also met with the President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda.