Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said this following the Ukraine–Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) summit in Kyiv on August 23, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

“For Lithuania, it is very important to remain consistent. We signed an agreement on my country’s annual support, which will be no less than 0.25% of our GDP each year. I cannot let you down, Mr. President, and Lithuanians cannot let Ukrainians down. Therefore, we will spend at least 0.25% every year in various forms. But first and foremost, we will help you strengthen your air defense and the purchase ammunition,” Nausėda said.

He also expressed gratitude to Ukraine for its experience in modern warfare. This, the politician noted, is very important for countries that are vulnerable and exposed to various forms of hybrid attacks.

Nausėda recalled that his country is located next to two adversaries — Belarus and Russia — and understands very well what daily pressure in various forms means, including illegal migration and the appearance of various drones or weather balloons.

“So together with you, with your help and support, we are better prepared to meet all these challenges, confront them, and deal with them much more successfully,” the Lithuanian president stressed.

He also placed particular emphasis on his “special attitude” toward Ukraine’s integration into the European Union.

“This is a very important element of your security guarantees, because I call integration into the European Union a long-term security guarantee for Ukraine,” Nausėda said.

He said it was very important for Ukraine to fulfill its commitments, implement reforms, accelerate the reform process, achieve the so-called “interim benchmarks,” and demonstrate results, particularly to skeptics in the EU who are not particularly supportive of further enlargement.” It is also important to demonstrate a shared understanding of reforms among the political elite and society and overcome the “certain hesitancy” of some EU members, he stressed.

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For Lithuania, it is very important that the two candidate countries — Moldova and Ukraine — move forward side by side, Nausėda added.

“Lithuania will be ready to help you in this process, especially considering that in the first half of next year we will assume the presidency of the Council of the European Union… We will use every opportunity to, first of all, move faster with opening the remaining negotiating clusters. So far, we have opened two of six, and I think it is really only a matter of time before we open the remaining clusters… And believe me, my country at all levels — from the president to the ministries — will support your efforts, because we are extremely interested in seeing Ukraine become a member of the European Union” Nausėda assured.

As a reminder, several heads of state and government arrived in Kyiv on National Flag Day and ahead of Independence Day. The leaders of Ukraine, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, and Norway took part in the Ukraine–Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) summit, while Sweden joined online.