Lithuanian president urges European leaders to strengthen Kyiv's negotiating position

VILNIUS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, who participated in a virtual meeting of the Coalition of the Willing on Thursday, urged European leaders to strengthen Ukraine's negotiating position in pursuit of peace in the war against Russia.

According to Nauseda, decisions made in the coming days and weeks may determine the future of security across Europe, the presidential office said in a press release.

Therefore, according to the Lithuanian president, Europe must now stand firmly on Ukraine’s side and strengthen its negotiating position.

“Europe must act in unity – clearly and decisively. Peace is achieved through strength, not by forcing the victim of aggression to make concessions,” the press release quoted Nauseda as saying.

The Lithuanian president outlined the key principles for achieving a lasting and just peace in Ukraine, saying that first, a ceasefire must be achieved.

According to him, any peace plan must include strong, enforceable and legally binding security guarantees for Ukraine, and there can be no “second Budapest Memorandum”.

The buildup of security-ensuring forces must continue, securing real European capabilities, and long-term military and financial support to Ukraine must be ensured, along with increased pressure on the aggressor, Russia, Nauseda pointed out. 

Moreover, in the Lithuanian leader’s view, no concessions can be made regarding Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty or international law, while Ukraine’s EU membership perspective by 2030 must be an integral part of the peace plan.

European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos stated while visiting Lithuania earlier this week that from a technical negotiating point of view, it was possible for Ukraine to join the Community by the aforementioned deadline.

The Coalition of the Willing held a video call as US President Donald Trump keeps pressure on Kyiv to accept a deal ending Russia's nearly four-year war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday he had discussed US security guarantees for Kyiv with top officials from the Trump administration, a day after Ukraine submitted counter-proposals on a plan to end the war with Russia.

A first US plan that involved Ukraine surrendering land that Russia has not captured was seen by Kyiv and its European allies as caving in to too many of Russia's hardline demands, and has since been revised.