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The meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers on 1 April in Brussels focused on the changed European security situation due to Russia’s aggressive actions in Ukraine. Together with his counterparts from other member countries of the Alliance, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius discussed NATO’s updated policy guidelines following the events in Ukraine and further development of NATO-Russia relations.

“Russia has undermined our cooperation principles and, therefore, we cannot continue to cooperate with this country as usual. In light of these events, we have to act in solidarity and show solidarity with Ukraine - not recognize Crimea’s annexation and strengthen cooperation at all levels,” the Lithuanian Foreign Minister said.

When speaking at the session of the North Atlantic Council, L.Linkevičius stressed the need to reinforce the NATO air policing mission in the Baltic States. He also spoke out in favour of more Alliance’s exercises and greater NATO’s visibility in public space.

A separate ceremony marked the following anniversaries of NATO enlargement: the accession of the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary to NATO fifteen years ago; the accession of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia to NATO ten years ago; and the accession of Albania and Croatia to NATO five years ago.

At the meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission, L.Linkevičius said that “Lithuania backs the Alliance’s practical support for Ukraine and will welcome initiatives to set up NATO Contact Point Embassies and Information Offices in Kyiv as well as initiatives to establish and strengthen capabilities of Information Centres in various regions of the country”.

NATO Foreign Ministers decided to take actions to help Ukraine, to intensify cooperation with the Eastern partners and to suspend practical cooperation with Russia.

At the initiative of the Minister L.Linkevičius, the mission of Lithuania to NATO held the first NATO ministerial meeting of the Group of Friends of Ukraine. The meeting was attended by Foreign Ministers of Romania, Slovakia, Norway, Hungary, Ukraine and Lithuania, as well as high-ranking representatives of Latvia, Estonia, Poland, the United Kingdom, Canada, Turkey, the Czech Republic, Denmark and the U.S.

The meeting welcomed the achievements of NATO enlargement. The Ministers noted that the Alliance remained committed to its enlargement policy and the door was open to European countries which were ready and shared the same values of freedom, security and democracy.

NATO Foreign Ministers’ meeting takes place on 1 and 2 April in Brussels.