The 25 billion euros in aid pledged this year by the eight Nordic and Baltic countries (NB8) make up the bulk of the 32 billion euros Europe has promised to Ukraine, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said on Wednesday.
Budrys said on LRT TV that Lithuania is urging its European partners to “look each other in the eye and clearly state who’s actually paying for what”.
“The fact is that the Nordic-Baltic countries are taking on the lion’s share of Europe’s contribution to Ukraine’s security and defence,” he said.
According to Budrys, the European Union, together with Norway, has pledged 32 billion euros in support for Ukraine this year, with 25 billion euros expected to come from the Nordic and Baltic countries.
“That’s the situation we have today. Others need to contribute as well – that’s our message. Others must contribute with both money and concrete military equipment and resources,” he said.
The minister added that countries like France, Italy and Spain “could definitely step up – both in relative and absolute terms” when it comes to supporting Ukraine.
Budrys made the comments after returning from Poland, where he took part in a Lublin Triangle meeting with his counterparts from Warsaw and Kyiv.
Following the meeting, Lithuania’s foreign minister called for considering new pressure measures against Moscow despite the European Union’s failure to agree on its 18th sanctions package.
Budrys and his counterparts – Radosław Sikorski of Poland and Andrii Sybiha of Ukraine – also issued a joint statement condemning Russia’s aggression, reaffirming strong support for Ukraine’s path to NATO and the EU, and outlining guidelines for further cooperation under the Lublin Triangle format.
The Lublin Triangle was established on July 28, 2020, when the foreign ministers of Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine signed the founding declaration in the southeastern Polish city.
The next meeting of the Lublin Triangle foreign ministers will be held in Lithuania.
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