Ahead of Munich Security Conference, Lithuanian FM warns: Putin doesn't want peace

VILNIUS - As the Munich Security Conference kicks off in Germany on Friday, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not seeking peace but is instead pursuing his imperialist ambitions.

"As the world gathers at the Munich Security Conference, I want to put a clear warning ahead of the discussions: Don't be fooled by the idea that Putin seeks peace. What he truly wants is to fulfill his imperialistic ambitions and continue redrawing borders by force," Budrys posted on the X social media platform.

The conference is taking place amid concerns in Kyiv and among its European allies that the war in Ukraine might be settled without their say - after US President Donald Trump and Putin agreed to start talks on ending the war and to meet.

According to Budrys, the Kremlin is following "its tried-and-tested" tactic of "claiming what doesn't belong to them and making unreasonable demands".

"It works as long as we allow it," he wrote. "The worst possible response to this behavior is to go along with Kremlin's plans and provide Russia with what it wants - territorial gains and political dividends."

On Thursday, after Trump's top officials held several meetings in Europe, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned world leaders "against trusting Putin's claims of readiness to end the war" and said he wanted the United States to agree on a "plan to stop Putin" before any negotiations.

Kyiv's European backers fear Trump could force Ukraine into a bad peace deal that will strengthen Putin's position at their borders and leave them shouldering the bulk of post-war security costs.

The new US administration has signaled that Ukraine will have to cede territory to Russia and that Ukraine's NATO membership is "impractical."

"Concessions to the aggressor have catastrophic consequences. We already know it from other munichs and yaltas," Budrys said.

"The only acceptable response to Russia's aggression is its full isolation, strict sanctions, accountability for international crimes and full reparation. The only way to keep Russia in check - Ukraine, Europe and US together," he added.

The Munich Security Conference is Europe's key annual top-level security forum, bringing together defense leaders to discuss pressing foreign and security policy challenges.