Lithuanian president: "The West must cross all red lines in Ukraine war"

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda on Wednesday at a hotel in Madrid.Jaime Villanueva

His exquisite treatment contrasts with the emphatic nature of his messages. The president of Lithuania, Gitanas Nauseda (Klaipeda, 58 years old), has become in the last 15 months one of the main allies of the Ukrainian government. Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, he has called for an even greater commitment from the West: more and better weapons for Ukraine and the adoption of new sanctions against Russia. The Lithuanian head of state urges EU and NATO members to ignore the "so-called red lines" and support Kiev "with everything necessary to win the war."

Visiting Madrid, within the framework of a European tour to address the future summit of the Atlantic Alliance, to be held in Lithuania in July, Nauseda attended this Wednesday to EL PAÍS, after meeting with the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, at the palace of La Moncloa and before visiting King Felipe VI in La Zarzuela.

Question. You have argued in recent months that it is necessary for the West to deliver much more weaponry to Ukraine. Do you not think there is any chance of reaching a negotiated solution?

Answer. We all want peace negotiations, but they cannot be conducted at the expense of Ukraine's territorial integrity; nor should Russia be allowed to use this opportunity to consolidate its positions and prepare another offensive. Right now there are many issues on which it does not seem possible for the warring parties to reach an agreement, so the only way to force a sincere and capable negotiation is through Ukraine's successes on the battlefield.

Q.What does Ukraine need to achieve this progress on the ground?

A. I believe that Western countries are meeting the expectations of Ukrainians, but unfortunately we are being very slow to take important decisions. It has taken us too long to cross the so-called red lines. At first, there were doubts about the possibility of sending any kind of weaponry; Then one red line was crossed after another, as with missile launcher systems or tanks.

Q. What red lines should be crossed now?

A. Modern fighter jets and long-range cruise missiles must be sent. And we had better do it as soon as possible, because all the hesitations of the past have been a waste of valuable time. Every day we delay in giving Ukraine everything it needs to win the war will mean more deaths and more destroyed infrastructure.

Q. The European Commission is working on a new package of sanctions against Russia. What else can be included?

A. Lithuania has consistently advocated even tougher sanctions, and we would like to see [state-owned energy company] Rosatom and its board of directors included in the sanctioned list. It should also include diamonds and dual-use technology [civilian and military], in addition to making a greater effort to prevent Russia from circumventing sanctions.

Q. Do you think China can act as a mediator?

A. It has the opportunity to prove that it is a leading actor on the international stage, but it must meet one requirement: to condemn the war in Ukraine and clearly state who is the aggressor and who is the victim. From now on, China's role can be very constructive in resolving the conflict and laying the groundwork for future peace negotiations.

Q. The next NATO summit will be held in July in Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital. What do you expect from that appointment?

A. We have a very ambitious agenda for the summit. One of the main issues will be to implement all the agreements reached last year in Madrid regarding the Alliance's Enhanced Forward Presence operation in the Baltic countries, which is fundamental to the defense of the eastern flank and will serve as a deterrent against Russia's unlimited imperialist ambitions. Another key issue will be the commitment to defence spending. The goal of investing 2% of GDP should be considered a floor, not a ceiling. If we want to increase the productive capacity of the arms industry and continue to supply arms to Ukraine as before, it is necessary to further increase military spending.

On the other hand, it is essential that steps be taken at the Vilnius summit to bring Ukraine even closer to the Euro-Atlantic security structure. This does not mean that there will be decisions regarding future membership, but it does mean that steps must be taken to send a clear message to Kiev that we will make the necessary efforts to bring them as close to NATO as possible.

Gitanas Nauseda, during the interview. Jaime Villanueva

Q. Lithuania is the EU country that has increased military investment the most in the last decade, and one of the countries that has donated the most military and financial aid to Ukraine in relation to its economy. Can this increase in spending be maintained for as long as the war lasts?

A. Yes of course. The population has fully understood that security must be the absolute priority; If you do not invest in defense, there will come a point where there is nothing to invest in, because we will have lost everything. Keep in mind that if Ukraine does not win the war, this will not have been Vladimir Putin's last goal. If Russia wins, other countries will be attacked. Perhaps it is one of the Baltics, perhaps Poland, but there is none in Europe that can feel safe.

Q. Lithuania has been suffering from a migration crisis on its border with Belarus for almost two years. At the end of April, the Lithuanian Parliament passed legislation authorizing hot returns. How is it justified to allow a practice contrary to international law?

A. It must be borne in mind that these immigrants are used as a tool of pressure by Aleksandr Lukashenko, a close ally of Putin. These vulnerable people become both victims and weapons for autocrats. And to stem the flow of migrants, the only option is to take measures that deter Belarus and Russia from employing these practices. In Lithuania we have been able to cut off the arrival of migrants at the border, but we are observing that soon there will be flights between Middle Eastern capitals and Minsk and Kaliningrad, and the only objective is to gather all the migrants who arrive and forcibly send them to the borders of Poland. Lithuania and Latvia.

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