Lithuania announced urgent funding for weapons and a €10 billion ($10 billion) package to support Ukraine’s defense industry on Thursday.
The decision comes amid mounting pressure to strengthen Ukraine’s security and enhance Europe’s resilience against Russian aggression. Vilnius’ decision marks the first major financial commitment to Ukrainian defense after Washington signaled a rollback of its presence in Europe.
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Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda announced the decision on Thursday on X.
“We must act now to support Ukraine and boost Europe’s security. No more talk shops – time for action,” Nauseda wrote.
Apart from the funding for defense, Nauseda said Ukraine’s path to NATO “must stay on the table,” and Ukraine needs to have “real security guarantees.”
“Russia must be held accountable for war crimes, and sanctions must stay until aggression stops,” Nauseda wrote, adding that Russia’s frozen assets should be seized and tariffs on Russian and Belarusian imports should be imposed.
Nauseda also called for a fast-track process for Ukraine’s EU accession by 2030.
“Ukraine’s security is part of European security. Let’s act together,” he added.
Lithuania has been one of the most active supporters of Ukraine in Eastern Europe.
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