Nausėda: Ukraine's victory and EU membership will determine the bloc's future
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda stated at a conference in Gdańsk on Ukraine's reconstruction that Ukraine's victory, its rebuilding, and EU membership will shape the future of the Union. He called for accelerating accession talks so Ukraine can join by January 1, 2030.
Speaking at a conference dedicated to Ukraine's reconstruction in Gdańsk, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda emphasized that the future of the European Union will be determined by Ukraine's victory, its reconstruction, and its membership in the bloc. He described Ukraine's rebuilding as an opportunity for democracies to prove that their creative power surpasses the destructive force of aggressors.
Nausėda welcomed the opening of the first negotiation cluster for Ukraine's EU membership and urged the immediate opening of the remaining five clusters, aiming for Ukraine to become a member state by January 1, 2030. He called on EU partners to assist Ukraine in implementing necessary reforms.
The president reiterated Lithuania's commitment to allocate no less than 0.25% of its GDP annually for ten years to Ukraine's military and security needs, noting that Lithuania is already fulfilling this pledge. He stressed that reconstruction efforts must begin without waiting for the war to end. Lithuania is already building and renovating schools and civil defense shelters, installing solar power stations, supporting rehabilitation of the wounded, demining, and strengthening institutions at both national and local levels.
Nausėda also introduced new Lithuanian commitments, including a business partnership program that brings together Lithuanian and Ukrainian enterprises to stimulate investment and innovation, and a municipal partnership program to enhance cooperation between local governments through practical mentoring.
At the same conference, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU has disbursed the first installment of a €90 billion loan to Ukraine – €3.2 billion in macro-financial assistance. She added that disbursements from a €6 billion fund for drone production would begin in the coming days.
