Lithuanian President: “necessary steps” should be taken to ensure European prospects for Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova
Nauseda pointed to the war in Ukraine as the reason for the necessity of more support for the three states that applied for European Union membership earlier this month. Photo: Reuters
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Necessary steps should be taken to ensure European prospects for Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said on Thursday ahead of the NATO leaders’ summit.
Nauseda pointed to the war in Ukraine as the reason for the necessity of more support for the three states that applied for European Union membership earlier this month.
That’s why we enthusiastically ask for more support in the European format. This is the reason why we are constantly asking for the necessary steps to be taken to provide these countries with a European prospect,” Nauseda highlighted.
The President of Lithuania said those making the decisions could “consider the wording, the timing,” but added it was “very important to send these signals to Georgia, to Moldova and of course to Ukraine”.
The contribution of the United States to strengthening Georgia is invaluable, Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani said on Thursday in comments marking the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
There are many Georgians in the Government and private citizens who are standing in solidarity with their counterparts in Ukraine, Department of State Spokesperson Ned Price said during a briefing on Thursday.
Russia's actions in Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine in 2014, as well as the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripals in Salisbury were warnings to the West, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in an opinion piece published by The New York Times on Sunday.
The Georgian government has been clear in its statements of support for Ukraine, while there has also been “generous” humanitarian support extended from Georgia to the country under the ongoing Russian invasion, United States Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan told reporters on Friday.
It is “especially important” for Georgia to continuously develop its defence capabilities, strengthen resilience and improve its compatibility with NATO standards, President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili said on Thursday at an event held for the 2022 NATO-Georgia Exercise.
Strong and capable armed forces are key to uphold Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and NATO will continue to support the country, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday.
Lithuanian Members of the European Parliament Andrius Kubilius and Rasa Juknevičienė on Saturday released a joint statement on the 14th anniversary of the 2008 war between Russia and Georgia and Russia’s continuing occupation of Georgian territories.