The President of Lithuania: By helping Ukraine, we are investing in a secure and peaceful future for all Europe

President Gitanas Nausėda is participating in the first meeting of the European Political Community in the capital of the Czech Republic, which holds the Presidency of the European Council. On Thursday, the leaders of the European Union, together with the leaders of 17 other European countries, discussed support for Ukraine, the introduction of additional sanctions against Russia, and energy security.

At the meeting of the European Political Community, the President pointed out that as Russia escalates the war in Ukraine by all means, the democracies must remain focused and united in their support for Ukraine and on the issue of sanctions against Russia. President Gitanas Nausėda stressed that sanctions, alongside military and financial support for Ukraine, remained one of the most effective tools to curb Russia’s ability to continue the war. However, sanctions are only successful when they are imposed effectively and by a large number of countries. The President also stressed the need to hold Russian war criminals accountable and proposed the establishment of an international tribunal.

“Security and peace in Europe depend on Ukraine’s ability to fight back against Russian aggression. By providing political, military, and economic support for Ukraine, we are investing in a secure and peaceful future for all of Europe. The outcome of the war will be determined to a large extent by how effectively we are able to help Ukraine,” the President emphasized.

In the President’s view, European countries must not only support Ukraine, but also consistently invest in improving their own security, by strengthening their military industry and by defending democratic values in the information front as they actively combat the Kremlin’s propaganda.

Addressing the leaders of 44 countries, the President stressed that Russia’s war in Ukraine had negative consequences not only for Europe, but also for the entire world, yet both economic and energy challenges could be overcome by working in a united and coordinated manner.

The President: We must not expose the public to lies and disinformation

On Friday, President Gitanas Nausėda met on the sidelines of the European Council with Roberta Metsola, the President of the European Parliament, to discuss support for Ukraine, energy security, the fight against disinformation, and Russia’s attempts to rewrite history.

Speaking to Roberta Metsola, the Lithuanian leader stressed that we had to stop Russia’s military aggression and hold the aggressor accountable for its atrocious war crimes. The President added that support for Ukraine was a deciding factor in this war and it was therefore necessary to keep up the momentum and to continue to actively support Ukraine with political, military and economic assistance.

During the conversation, Gitanas Nausėda emphasized the importance of energy security. According to the President, Europe needs to accelerate the full phase-out of energy imports from Russia, as well as to strengthen the protection of critical energy infrastructure.

The meeting also addressed the issues of historical memory; Gitanas Nausėda encouraged the President of the European Parliament to play an active role in denouncing attempts to rewrite history, in reviving the functioning of the Platform of European Memory and Conscience, and in the construction of a memorial in Brussels to the victims of totalitarian regimes.

“The rewriting of history and the attempt to manipulate historical facts in order to justify aggression is a tool of hybrid warfare actively employed by Russia. We need to tell Europe and the world our narrative, the real history, and prevent the public from getting lost in the trap of lies and disinformation,” President Gitanas Nausėda spoke.