February 15, Minister of National Defence Dovilė Šakalienė took part in the “Peace through Strength: A Plan for Ukraine” panel at the Munich Security Conference. She made the milestone as the first Lithuanian Minister of National Defence to speak in the main part of the Munich Security Conference, the same panel as Special Presidential Envoy for Russia and Ukraine of the United States Keith Kellogg. The discussion on the future of Ukraine was also attended by David Lammy, Secretary of State for Foreign Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland Radoslaw Sikorski, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Ivanovych Sybiha.
“Real security guarantees can only come from a position of strength, for which Europe urgently needs to build military muscle. The cold shower regarding our security capabilities from the United States is fair and constructive – it is easy to discuss threats when you have the U.S. military might right behind you. Now Europe will have to pay off the debt amassed over the seven decades of security covered by the U.S. with high interest rates and without rescheduling. We have to demonstrate we are reliable partners,” said Minister Dovilė Šakalienė at the panel discussion.
According to her, no negotiations can be conducted if it does not include Ukraine and Europe, while lasting peace requires real security guarantees for Ukraine.
“However, not a thought about division of the Alliance is allowed, Europe and the U.S. do not have real chance to deter effectively, nor to beat if necessary the axis of evil led by russia and China, unless we wish to have such damage incurred that it would take us decades to recover from. We can and we must stand with Ukraine in the negotiations. We can and we must support each other with the United States. To make sure that happens, we need to form a unified European position: demonstrate leadership on Ukraine’s EU membership and put the defence spending money on the table. This is not the time for distress, this is the time for Europe to act its weight and put its words into weapons,” said Minister.
According to D. Šakalienė, “a wrong peace absent of the voice of Ukraine and Europe will accelerate development of russia’s war industry and completion of the Armed Forces’ reform”.
Minister of National Defence also pointed out that China was drawing conclusions “using force against your neighbors pays off, sanctions are avoidable, allies can be betrayed, territories can be seized by force, genocide can be justified.”
Therefore, according to Minister, our actions this year will lay the groundwork to a fortified or shattered Europe. “Putin will not become another person, we have 3-4 years to prepare for a massive war in Europe. NATO must be 100% ready to fight any minute because the only way to avoid war is to full y prepare to fight it. We cannot longer afford any illusion,” Minister summarized.
The Munich Security Conference is an annual highest level key forum in Europe which brings together leaders in the area of defence to discuss the most pressing foreign and security policy topics.
