Lietuvos Respublikos Prezidentas

06/19/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/19/2026 00:56

The President at the European Council: The future of Ukraine and Moldova lies in the European Union

On Thursday in Brussels, President Gitanas Nausėda is attending the meeting of the European Council, where European Union leaders are discussing the global geopolitical situation, support for Ukraine, and negotiations on EU enlargement.

During the meeting, which was also attended by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, the Lithuanian leader welcomed the decision adopted on June 15 to launch accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.

According to the President, despite Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and its hybrid interference in Moldova, both countries have demonstrated their ability to implement reforms even while struggling for their freedom. This confirms that the future of Ukraine and Moldova lies in the European Union. He stressed that, following the opening of the first negotiating cluster, it is essential to open all the remaining clusters as soon as possible.

The President emphasized that the European Union must continue to support Ukraine with unity and determination. Russia's recent attacks on Ukraine's civilian infrastructure and cultural sites, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, show that the aggressor country has no intention of seeking peace. Therefore, pressure on Russia must be increased through the swift adoption of the EU's 21st sanctions package. It is unacceptable that, with the war now in its fifth year, Russia continues to finance its war machine through revenues from oil, natural gas, and nuclear energy.

The President also stressed the need to ensure that Russia's participation in international sporting and cultural events is not normalized until a just and lasting peace is secured in Ukraine.

According to the President, Russia remains a long-term threat to the security of the European Union. Therefore, it is essential to accelerate EU defense readiness initiatives and expand the defense industrial base.
Lietuvos Respublikos Prezidentas published this content on June 19, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on June 19, 2026 at 06:57 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]