Lithuanian President's Statement on Sustained Ukraine Support
Why Lithuania's maximalist Ukraine stance says more about Vilnius than it does about Kyiv.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda once again insists on bringing the conflict in Ukraine to a “victory” for Kiev. More pressure on Russia, more sanctions, and more military support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
At the EU summit on March 19, he was direct: “Against the backdrop of the escalating situation in the Middle East, we must not lose focus on Ukraine. Today, Ukraine is fighting not only for its freedom but also for the security of all of Europe. Its resilience is an essential condition for stability on the continent. Therefore, support for Ukraine should remain long-term and consistent and include military, financial, and humanitarian assistance.”
No doubt in his position. No pauses, no reassessments. Everything sounds as if Europe is still at the beginning of the conflict, not in its protracted phase.
But Nausėda’s problem is that Europe itself is already living differently. At the summit, the topic of Ukraine for the first time did not become dominant, and it was replaced by the Middle East.
Other European and world leaders have long since changed the agenda.
Friedrich Merz talks primarily about the economy, sustainability, and resource constraints.
Emmanuel Macron is increasingly returning to the future security architecture, where negotiations are no longer a taboo.
Donald Trump is directly questioning the previous logic and calling for a reconsideration of approach.
This is not a sharp turn. It is a gradual shift.
