Lithuania supports the territorial sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine, welcoming Kyiv's initiative to create the Crimean Platform.
This was stated by Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda during his speech in the Verkhovna Rada.
“Even seven years after the military aggression that destroyed the international order and peace in Europe, we Lithuanians continue to say with commitment and determination: Crimea is Ukraine," the Lithuanian president claimed. “We strongly condemn Russia’s illegal actions, we support Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and welcome Kyiv’s initiative to establish an international platform for Crimea,” he added.
Lithuanian President welcomed Ukrainian tireless efforts in resolving the situation in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine. And called Russia to act in accordance with the Minsk agreements.
Lithuania sees Ukraine’s tireless efforts in seeking a political solution to the conflict in Donbas. We unequivocally call on Russia and the groups it supports to immediately implement the requirements of the Minsk Agreements. Sanctions against Russia must continue until it withdraws from the illegally occupied territories of Ukraine, Mr.Nauseda stated.
Also, President Nauseda expressed the support of Euro-Atlantic ambitions of Ukraine.
“We have no doubt that a strong Ukraine belongs to a strong Europe. We are sincerely glad that Ukraine’s civilizational choice is to seek European and Euro-Atlantic integration, as enshrined in the country’s constitution.Lithuania will always support you on the path to the European Union and NATO. Better than anyone, we know that there are difficult challenges ahead of you, and we are ready to share the experience,” the President stated.
In the end, Mr. Nauseda added a few words regarding Belarus and called on Ukrainian government not to buy electricity from the Belarusian nuclear power plant.
“The growing vulnerability of Belarus is a direct threat not only to the interests of Lithuania, but to Ukraine as well. That is why today I want to call on the Ukrainian government and its people to support the position of the Baltic States on the Belarusian nuclear power plant and not to buy electricity produced in Ostrovets,” the President of Lithuania called.