Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has called on Estonia, Latvia and Poland to jointly seek a review of the EU's migration policy and to push for European funding for the bloc's external border.
Baltic and Polish leaders discussed the issues during their visit to Kyiv on Monday, according to the Lithuanian president's office.
“I propose to jointly initiate discussions on a number of issues in Brussels, including the need to review the EU's migration policy and legislation on the protection of external borders, as well as on the possibility of obtaining EU funding for the construction of a physical barrier along the border with Belarus,” Nausėda was quoted in a press release.
At the meeting, the Lithuanian president also “stressed that the Baltic states and Poland must take a united and principled stand towards the Belarusian regime” and underlined the need for further strengthening regional cooperation in the face of next month's Zapad 2021 military exercise.
The Baltic and Polish leaders issued a joint declaration, expressing “concern about the deteriorating human rights situation in Belarus, the escalating repressions and persecution of regime opponents”, according to the press release.
Ukrainian state award for Nausėda
Nausėda, who left for Kyiv on Sunday, was awarded the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise of the First Degree, a top state award of Ukraine, on Monday.
This award is given for “outstanding merits to Ukraine and its people”, according to the Lithuanian president's office.
Nausėda received the award from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the inaugural summit of the Crimea Platform in Kyiv.
The Crimea Platform is Ukraine's diplomatic initiative aimed at drawing international attention to Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Newsletter
Every Friday morning.
