NATO's Hague summit must pledge support for Ukraine's armed forces - Lithuanian FM

VILNIUS - President Volodymyr Zelensky should be invited to NATO's June summit in The Hague and hear a strong commitment from the Alliance to support Ukraine's armed forces, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said.

"In The Hague, we must agree on 40 billion euros in military aid for Ukraine because its forces are the first line of defense. We must support them because it is an investment in the security of all Europe," Lithuania's top diplomat said during an informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Turkey on Thursday.

Budrys also said he expects the summit to reaffirm what was agreed at previous gatherings - that Ukraine is on an irreversible path toward NATO membership, according to the Foreign Ministry's press release.

"The NATO membership is the best option to secure not only Ukraine but also Europe," he said.

The ministers in Turkey also discussed the urgent need to ramp up allied defense spending and ensure the Alliance has the capabilities it needs.

Among other topics, they held a discussion on the United States' call to increase defense spending to 5 percent of GDP over the next seven years.

Lithuania plans to significantly boost its defense budget between 2026 and 2030, aiming to allocate 5-6 percent of GDP.