Lithuanian Foreign Minister: European Countries Must Accelerate the Delivery of Promised Weapons to Ukraine

Many EU countries are not fulfilling their commitments to deliver the promised weapons to Ukraine on time, which is complicating the situation at the frontline. This was stated by Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis before an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Thursday. 

He stressed that EU countries should ask themselves whether they are responsible for Russia's brutal attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine. He pointed out that Kyiv has not yet received any of the Patriot air defence systems promised to Ukraine, that since June Kyiv has not received a single package of ammunition from the EU, and that Ukraine has started operating only a few F-16 fighter jets. 

Landsbergis noted that weapons often promised by an EU country to Ukraine last year can be delivered to the frontline only in 2027. Sometimes, the delivered weapons are unusable at the front or need to be repaired. 

‘So I ask, are we not part of the problem, are we taking this seriously, are we really taking steps to make sure that these horrible things stop?’ Landsbergis said.

Instead, as the Lithuanian Foreign Minister stressed, Ukrainians have to fight with what they have now, and these weapons are becoming less and less.

On the other hand, he pointed out that Russia has reliable friends - Iran and North Korea - and they are ready to supply Russia with the promised weapons.

Therefore, as the minister stressed, European politicians tell their citizens well about helping Ukraine, but when it comes to arms supplies, the situation looks quite different.

According to him, Ukraine and Eastern European countries are very concerned about the information that Germany may cut the budget for assistance to Ukraine.

‘We understand that this is still a political stage, that negotiations are ongoing. But I can tell you that Ukrainians are worried, the eastern flank (of the EU - ed.) is worried, because we all understand that if Ukrainians do not receive the promised aid, it is an open door for Putin to continue (his aggression - ed.),’ the Lithuanian minister said.

Today, an informal meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council has begun in Brussels, with the main issue being the continuation of EU military support for Ukraine. Tomorrow, this issue will be discussed during an informal meeting of EU defence ministers, which will also take place in Brussels.