On June 8 Vaidotas Urbelis, Defence Policy Director of the Ministry of National Defence, and Minister of Defence of the Northern Group expressed strong support to Ukraine and welcome Finland’s and Sweden’s decision to become members of NATO during a meeting in Iceland.
Ministers discussed the Russian invasion in Ukraine that had brought immeasurable destruction and suffering to the people of Ukraine and posed risk to the European and North Atlantic security. Defence Ministers and authorized delegates of the 12 European countries expressed a strong support to Ukraine and agreed to continue backing it politically and militarily against the brutal and illegitimate Russian aggression. In its turn, Lithuania is making every effort in support of statehood and independence of Ukraine, it has been and it will be providing to Ukraine every possible assistance, including military, financial, humanitarian and any other if necessary.
The Norther Group Defence Ministers also congratulated Sweden and Finland on their sovereign choices to become members of NATO and agreed to ensure a swift ratification process of the Swedish and Finnish membership at national level. “The Swedish and Finnish membership in NATO will bring a significant improvement of the collective defence and will enhance security and stability in Northern Europe,” stressed V. Urbelis in attendance on behalf of the Minister of National Defence.
The Northern Group meeting was attended by heads of defence and authorized personnel of Germany, United kingdom, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Norway, Netherlands, Finland, Sweden and Iceland. Membership in the Northern Groups complements other formats of bilateral and multilateral defence cooperation Lithuania is in.
Photos: courtesy of the organizers
