Nausėda: EU must quickly adopt 22nd sanctions package to hit Russia's war machine

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has called for the European Union to expedite the adoption of the 22nd sanctions package against Russia, stressing the urgent need to impact the aggressor's war capabilities.

During a meeting discussing further military support for Ukraine, EU expansion, and sanctions on Russia, Nausėda stated, "Sanctions against Russia must continue, the EU must adopt the 22nd sanctions package as soon as possible and finally tackle those sectors that would most painfully affect Russia's war machine, cutting off its energy revenues and limiting access to the global financial system." He also advocated for stricter sanctions against third-party actors facilitating the circumvention of existing measures.

Nausėda underscored the substantial contribution of the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) countries to Ukraine's defense, accounting for 40% of all Western military aid. Lithuania's annual commitment to Ukraine's defense amounts to at least 0.25% of its GDP, approximately 230 million euros, with its latest aid package valued at 42 million euros.

The President highlighted the NB8 and Ukraine platform as a valuable tool for learning from Ukraine's wartime experience in areas such as defense, civil security, resilience, and cybersecurity. He also emphasized Lithuania's support for Ukraine's goal of full EU membership by 2030, noting it will be a priority during Lithuania's upcoming presidency of the Council of the EU.

The meeting with Ukrainian President took place on Ukraine's National Flag Day, August 23. The article also notes that reproduction of the text without written consent from ELTA is prohibited.