Nausėda says Europe must shape Ukraine peace and security talks

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said Europe must take a full part in negotiations on peace in Ukraine and the continent’s future security, LRT reported. He made the remarks during a conference call on Friday with leaders of the Nordic-Baltic Eight and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The call focused on recent diplomatic initiatives to end the war, the need to maintain pressure on Russia and further action by the international community.

Nausėda said European countries should agree on a common position and a clear negotiating mandate before talks begin. With a new round of diplomatic negotiations due to take place in Abu Dhabi, he said it was particularly important to preserve transatlantic unity and prevent Russia from using the process to weaken international pressure.

He called for increased support for Ukraine and said the European Union should prioritise agreement on its 22nd package of sanctions against Russia. European solidarity, he said, must lead to concrete decisions, with support for Ukraine fairly shared among European countries.

“The current level of support for Ukraine is not sufficient. We must act more decisively, ensure long-term military and financial assistance, and steadily increase pressure on the aggressor. Only a strong Ukraine and credible deterrence of Russia can ensure lasting peace in Europe,” Nausėda said in a statement.

The Lithuanian president’s office said Lithuania has provided Ukraine with €1.2 billion in military aid, including €209 million this year. Nausėda said support for Ukraine remains one of Lithuania’s main foreign policy priorities and will feature prominently during the country’s presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Lithuania will hold the EU Council presidency in the first half of 2027, taking over from Ireland and later handing it to Greece. The three countries form an 18-month presidency trio.