Supplying Ukraine with air defense systems is key to victory – Lithuania's Nauseda

VILNIUS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda had a phone call with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday and said that supplying Ukraine with air defense systems was key to the protection of civilians and the country's victory over Russian aggression.

"Ukraine's success in regaining the territories seized by Russia is a testimony to the heroism and unbreakable will of the Ukrainian people. I believe that with the West's swift assistance, you will succeed in pushing the aggressor out of your territories. Supplying Ukraine with air defense systems is a prerequisite for the protection of civilians and for achieving victory," Nauseda was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the presidential press service on Friday.

According to the Lithuanian president, this is "a struggle for peace and freedom for all of us, and Lithuania will support Ukraine until victory".

The West's rapid military support to Ukraine is of utmost importance, the Lithuanian leader said, adding that Lithuania will continue to actively call for increasing military assistance in all international formats, as well as for economic and financial assistance to Ukraine.

The Lithuanian and Ukrainian leaders also discussed Belarus' involvement in Russia's war in Ukraine. Nauseda noted that Belarus should be seen as Russia's full-fledged ally taking part in its military aggression in Ukraine. Therefore, Nauseda underlined, the existing Western sanctions must be tightened for both Russia and Belarus to prevent any possibility for them to circumvent them.

The Lithuanian president also congratulated his Ukrainian counterpart and all the people on the Day of Defenders of Ukraine.