Prime Minister to Speakers of Parliaments of NATO countries: investment into our security today will bring much larger peace dividends in future

It is the unity of democratic states and the military preparedness of NATO that can deter Russia from its further aggression, said Prime Minister addressing the Speakers of the Parliaments of NATO Member States, noting the need for bold decisions at the Vilnius NATO Summit, including on Ukraine’s future in the Alliance.

In her speech at the High-Level Meeting of Speakers of Parliaments of NATO Member States in Vilnius, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė highlighted the indispensable importance of the voice of parliaments and their representatives on the most pressing issues for democracies, including on Russia’s war against Ukraine.

‘Today the heroism of the Ukrainian people is preventing Russia’s war from spreading further into Europe. But in the long term, it is the unity of democratic states and the military preparedness of NATO that can deter Russia from its further aggression’, said the Prime Minister.

NATO’s forward defence and deterrence are particularly important for the Baltic countries, considering heavily militarised Kaliningrad and Belarus, that has become de facto part of Russia, said the Prime Minister.

The Alliance’s new defence plans address these challenges. To be executable, they must be backed by necessary forces and adequate investments, noted Ingrida Šimonytė at the meeting in the Seimas, while expressing hope about a principled decision on long-term commitments regarding higher defence spending to be reached at the  Vilnius NATO Summit.

‘Investment into our security today will bring much larger peace dividends in the future’, said Ingrida Šimonytė.

A new security architecture is possible only without Russia, but it must include Ukraine. Ukraine’s NATO membership will serve to strengthen the Alliance and enhance security and stability in Europe and beyond. The Prime Minister expressed hope that the upcoming Summit would provide a real pathway for Ukraine to advance towards NATO.  A dangerous precedent would be created if the outcome of Vilnius Summit could be read as a victory of Russia in precluding Ukraine from joining NATO.

‘Every delayed day in delivering weapons costs human lives, including the lives of innocent civilians, said Prime Minister, noting the need to support Ukraine as a way to achieve victory as soon as possible.

The Prime Minister added that in pursuit of a sustainable security architecture, future peace in Ukraine should be defined by Ukraine, not the aggressor, and any peace formula must include justice and full accountability of the perpetrators.

We must be ready for a long-haul in Ukraine, as Russia is prepared to long-term confrontation with NATO and Western democracies, underlined Ingrida Šimonytė.

‘NATO is about our shared values. We will always be on the side of freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. It is our responsibility - as governments and politicians - to take all necessary decisions to safeguard these values.  Vilnius NATO Summit will be one of the tests of our readiness to take the necessary decisions. In this sense, I hope that Vilnius NATO Summit would be transformative and historic in its nature’, said the Prime Minister in conclusion.

Full text of Prime Minister’s speech at the High-Level Meeting of the Speakers of Parliaments of NATO Member Countries (English).