Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis at the NATO Foreign Affairs Ministers' meeting: Security situation calls for a change in our approach to the Alliance’s defence planning

Foreign Ministers discussed impacts of Russian and Belarusian aggression against Ukraine on the security of NATO and EU countries. According to them, the shelling of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant by Russian forces is extremely worrying.

“Russian attacks on Ukraine's nuclear facilities may recur. The international community must seek the consolidation of security zones around nuclear facilities in Ukraine,” Landsbergis said.

Allies unanimously agreed that there was an urgent need to reinforce NATO's deterrence and defence posture on its eastern flank.

“We highly appreciate the deployment of allies’ additional forces in Lithuania. The radically changed security situation calls for a change in our approach to the Alliance’s defence planning and for ensuring improved forward defence capabilities in our region”, Landsbergis noted.

Foreign Ministers also agreed to continue and to increase financial, military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, and expressed the need to join the effort of the international community's for the establishment of humanitarian corridors for war refugees.

After the meeting, Landsbergis met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Zbigniew Rau and discussed initiatives to strengthen bilateral defence and security cooperation, as well as to increase aid to Ukraine.

“We strive to take the strategic partnership between Lithuania and Poland to the next level. For the sake of our countries' common security, we need to consult more closely on defence issues and act together,” Landsbergis said.


Photos: NATO