Minister of National Defence Dovilė Šakalienė attended the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and 30-country strong Coalition of the Willing meetings in Brussels.
The aim of the Coalition of the Willing is to provide Ukraine security guarantees in case of a ceasefire, including the possibility of military reassurance force deployment. There is intense ongoing military and political-level debate on the number of coalition members who would contribute, the extent of possible contributions, potential action mandate and options of response in case of ceasefire violations.
“We have to ensure security at sea and in the air, and when it comes to land, the most important goal is to ensure a sufficient and consistent training and supply for the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” spoke Minister of National Defence D. Šakalienė after the Coalition meeting.
At the meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (Ramstein format) which bring together 511 Ukraine donor countries Lithuania announced a new EUR 30 million assistance package to Ukraine, totaling Lithuania’s commitment in 2025 thus far to EUR 110 million.
“Ukraine must have the strength to defend itself. The summer season might be particularly challenging, so we need to deliver the support sooner rather than later. In total, the worth of assistance pledged for Ukraine at the Ramstein format meeting today stands at EUR 21 billion,” said D. Šakalienė. According to her, the most important security guarantee Ukraine can have is the ability to fight – the combat power of its Armed Forces.
“It is an assurance that russia loses all illusion it can advance further. Is a durable ceasefire possible? russia has not once to date respected any agreement it had made, so we cannot hold on to any illusion and we need to be prepared for any scenario. Also, the coalition must answer the question what specific mandate we will have in Ukraine and which concrete countries will contribute capabilities to be determined, as well as the concrete response to russia in case it violates the ceasefire agreement,” said D. Šakalienė.
She also added that it was obligatory to demand to a monitoring of the ceasefire conducted by the U.S. and that the United States would map out a consequential price to pay for russia in case of a ceasefire violation.
“As far as our own ability and determination are concerned, Lithuania is prepared to partake in the Coalition of the Willing contributing to several different components. Of course, Lithuania would need a parliamentary mandate in the final stage. However, we are already conducting analysis of different scenarios, we have evaluated potential options and financial commitments, so that we are ready to go when the situation starts moving forward,” said Minister of National Defence D. Šakalienė.
Minister D. Šakalienė also met with Minister of Defence of the Netherlands Ruben Brekelmans, Minister of Defence of Sweden Pål Jonson, Permanent Representative of the United States to NATO Matthew G. Whitaker and Ambassador of Lithuania to the EU Nerijus Aleksiejūnas on the margins of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.
Photo courtesy of NATO
