Nausėda and Kallas discuss European security and stronger support for Ukraine

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda and European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas discussed Europe’s security priorities, future EU funding and stronger support for Ukraine during Kallas’s visit to Lithuania.

Nausėda said Lithuania would focus on European security and defense, EU enlargement, competitiveness, internal security and social resilience when it assumes the rotating presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2027. He said Lithuania would seek to act as a fair and impartial mediator in building common decisions among member states.

The talks covered the EU’s 2028-2034 multiannual financial framework. Nausėda stressed the need for adequate funding for security and defense, military mobility, resilient critical infrastructure, competitiveness and support for Ukraine. He also highlighted the needs of the EU’s eastern border regions and the challenges posed by hybrid threats.

On Ukraine, the president said European assistance should increase, particularly for air defense, counter-drone measures and energy resilience. The sides also discussed allocating the remaining funds from the European Peace Facility to Ukraine and increasing member states’ contributions to Ukraine’s defense.

The discussion on sanctions focused on maintaining maximum pressure on Russia and Belarus, preserving existing measures, adopting a 22nd sanctions package and speeding up new measures targeting Russia’s energy, financial, military and industrial sectors. Nausėda also called for faster progress in Ukraine’s and Moldova’s accession processes and continued advancement in the Western Balkans. Lithuania will take over the EU Council presidency from Ireland and later hand it to Greece, forming an 18-month presidency trio.