Air defense rotation in NATO's east would be proper response to Russia – Lithuanian formin

VILNIUS – NATO's rotational air defense presence in the Black and Baltic Sea regions would be an appropriate response to the Russian threat, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said as he hosted his Romanian counterpart Luminita Odobescu in Vilnius on Thursday.

NATO allies agreed on such a model last June, but it has not yet been implemented. The Baltic countries are currently in discussions with countries that could deploy air systems to the region.

"I believe a rotation of air defense both in the Black Sea region and in the Baltic region would be an appropriate response to the Russian escalation that is already taking place," Landsbergis at a joint news conference with Odobescu.

A Russian drone crashed on Romanian territory during Moscow's attack on Ukraine's port infrastructure last December, following a similar incident in September.  A Russian missile also entered Polish airspace in late December.

"Actions like the drone crashes, even if seemingly unintentional, are escalation. They would not be happening if Russia were not waging war against Ukraine," Lithuania's top diplomat said. 

Odobescu said that such incidents show how serious the security situation is not only in Ukraine but also in the Black Sea region.

The Romanian minister underlined the importance of implementing NATO's Vilnius summit commitments in order to beef up security.  

"One of these is related to security in the Black Sea region, but also with full implementation of regional plans and increased military presence in our region," she told the news conference. 

On the eve of the Vilnius summit last July, NATO approved new regional defense plans reflecting changes in the Alliance's strategy.

Previously, the approach was that the Baltic countries should try to hold off an offensive until allied reinforcements can arrive to help them. The new plans aim to ensure that NATO is ready to fight back immediately.

CALL FOR DEAL ON NEW RUSSIA SANCTIONS

Landsbergis also stressed the need to agree on the strongest possible new package of sanctions against Russia before the second anniversary of the war in Ukraine in late February. 

For her part, Odobescu said that her country will support Ukraine "as much as needed".

"Moreover, allowing Ukraine to achieve its objective according to its own choosing, rendering justice to the victims and fighting against impunity – all this remains a fundamental objective not only for Ukraine but also for us," she said. 

Romania remains firm in its position that only Ukraine has the political and moral legitimacy to decide whether it wants to negotiate with Russia.

At their meeting, the two ministers also discussed Romania's efforts to increase its capacity for transporting Ukrainian grain, and measures to support Ukrainian refugees.

According to the Reuters news agency, Ukraine is one of the world's biggest grain exporters, and the Romanian port of Constanta has become Kyiv's largest alternative export route since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.