Affirming Ukraine's NATO Membership Pledge is Imperative, Says Lithuanian Foreign Minister in The Hague
VILNIUS - SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE
In Kyiv today, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys reiterated the importance of Ukraine joining NATO in the future, as he and his Ukrainian counterparts discussed strategies for the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague.
"We're focusing on what should be our main objectives for the NATO summit in The Hague," said Budrys, who's in Ukraine's capital. "One of our key tasks is to reinforce our commitment to Ukraine's future NATO membership."
While the Hague summit on June 24-25 will primarily address Russia's invasion of Ukraine and US President Donald Trump's calls for increased defense spending among allies, Budrys stressed that the issue of Ukraine's NATO membership remains paramount.
"It's crucial we reaffirm our pledge for Ukraine's NATO entry and pledge additional support, as there's no sign of Putin easing his aggression," he added.
Though unanimous political support for Ukraine's eventual accession to NATO has been established among the 32 member states, formal accession procedures have yet to advance to the invitation stage. The arduous process has been delayed by ongoing war and geopolitical considerations.
Ukraine made its application to join NATO in September 2022, only months after Russia launched its large-scale invasion. Though the country has yet to receive a formal invitation, as the member countries grapple with reaching a consensus on the matter, diplomatic sources confirm that Ukraine is on an "irreversible path" to joining the alliance.
In the European Union, significant decisions will also be made later this month. "June will be a busy month for EU processes," Budrys said. "We'll be making crucial decisions on whether to open the first negotiating chapters for Ukraine in the second half of the year or not."
Ukraine and Moldova received EU candidate status in June 2022, but the accession process has been stalled due to Hungary's demands for guarantees regarding the rights of Ukraine's Hungarian-speaking minority.
Throughout this process, the Baltic states, including Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, have been strong supporters of Ukraine's NATO membership. They encourage NATO to take concrete political steps toward accession at the 2025 summit, believing it would strengthen security and peace in Europe.
"During the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague, the discussion on Ukraine's future NATO membership is a key priority in defense policy and legislation, as reinforced by Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys, who also emphasized the need for additional support due to persistent war-and-conflicts in the region."
"In the broader context of politics and general news, the ongoing EU processes in June will likely decide whether to open the first negotiating chapters for Ukraine, with the Baltic states, including Lithuania, advocating for concrete political steps towards Ukraine's NATO accession by the 2025 summit, aiming to strengthen security and peace in Europe."
