NATO will have to show it's serious about enlargement, Ukraine's victory – Landsbergis

VILNIUS – The time is approaching when NATO will have to show whether it is serious about helping Ukraine win the war, deter Russia and accept new members, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis says as NATO foreign ministers are meeting in Prague.

"I think the time is coming when it will be determined whether we as an alliance are serious. Serious about quite a lot of things. Are we serious about assisting Ukraine to win this war, are we serious to deter Russia, so that Russia has strategic dilemmas if it continues further in Ukraine but also if it continues with its hybrid activities in Europe and in NATO," Lithuania's top diplomat told journalist.

"I wish that this Alliance will find strength in itself and, celebrating the 75th anniversary, also very clearly declares that yes, we are serious, we can win, we can deter and we can invite new members," he added.

The time is also coming, he said, when it will become clear whether NATO is serious about accepting new members.

"We've been quite good at speaking nice words, making promises, but we have to start delivering on this. And it's not just about those who depend on our promises, but it's also about our credibility," Landsbergis underlined.

At the last foreign ministers' meeting before the Washington Summit, top diplomats from NATO countries are discussing the Alliance's long-term practical and political support to Ukraine and Ukraine's path to NATO membership.

The NATO Summit in Washington will take place on July 9-11.