LONDON
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said on Wednesday that NATO countries should provide real security guarantees to Ukraine because NATO’s approach to Russia must be based on the fact that “Russia will remain the most significant threat for a long time.”
“The attempts to pressure Ukraine to negotiate on unfavorable terms at the expense of its sovereignty and territorial integrity have nothing to do with a just and sustainable peace,” Nauseda said at a press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels.
He said NATO members must work on a more ambitious economic pledge ahead of the upcoming Hague summit next year.
“So, we should focus on the victory of Ukraine and the containment of Russia,” he said, adding that NATO countries should provide “real security guarantees” on Ukrainian soil.
“NATO’s approach to Russia must be based on the fact that Russia will remain the most significant threat for a long time,” Nauseda said. “NATO should review itself,” especially for short-notice scenarios.
Rutte praised Lithuania for its support for Ukraine and its defense spending.
In response to a question about the possible danger that “frontline states” face, Rutte said that he always has “some argument” with the concept of frontline states.
“I’m from the Netherlands, you would also argue that Rotterdam and Amsterdam are front-line cities, that London is a front-line city, that Washington is a front-line city,” he said.
Rutte said that the latest technology and possibilities in modern warfare have put everyone on the front line.
“So, we are all in this together … we are all frontline states,” he added.
He noted that NATO allies are safe now but warned that he is “not so sure four or five years from now, when you look at the huge defense production that is taking place in Russia, in China.”
Rutte indicated that in order not to end up in that predicament, NATO must quickly decide to spend more and discuss what that level would be.
