Prime Minister’s meeting with counterpart Petr Fiala in Czech Republic

As part of her working visit to the Czech Republic, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė met with Prime Minister Petr Fiala on Tuesday to discuss regional security, support for Ukraine, strengthening of collective defence and deterrence in the context of the upcoming NATO Summit in Vilnius, and other subjects of mutual interest.

Supporting Ukraine is an investment in the security of all of us, and I am glad that Lithuania and the Czech Republic are not shying away from speaking with one voice on this issue. It would also be self-deception to think that the Russian threat is short-lived. Therefore, we must be demanding of ourselves - NATO's defence capabilities and effective deterrence must remain high on our agenda. I hope that the Vilnius Summit and its decisions will already be a significant milestone in this process of strengthening our security’, said Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė.

The Prime Minister highlighted that the extent and swiftness of military support to Ukraine continue to be crucial factors on the battlefield, directly impacting the speed at which peace can be attained.

On the upcoming NATO Summit in Vilnius, the Lithuanian and Czech Heads of Government emphasized the significance of fostering a closer partnership between Ukraine and NATO in the context of Euro-Atlantic security architecture.Ingrida Šimonytė further stressed that NATO’s defence plans and their current implementation must effectively address the enduring threat posed by Russia, as well as the geopolitical dynamics involving Belarus under Russian influence.

The Lithuanian Prime Minister said that we still have ways to strengthen international sanctions against Russia and Belarus. At the same time, a united focus on reducing the possibility of circumventing sanctions is necessary, as Russia is using loopholes in the implementation of the sanctions to finance the ongoing war in Ukraine, Ingrida Šimonytė stressed at the meeting.

Lithuanian Prime Minister Šimonytė and Czech Prime Minister Fiala agreed on the importance of strengthening the EU-NATO partnership with democracies outside Europe and in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Prime Ministers also discussed bilateral cooperation between Lithuania and the Czech Republic, also other issues of mutual relevance and of the EU, and the importance of resisting Russian disinformation targeting Western democratic societies.