Starting a conversation about sending Western troops to Ukraine will help to break down the red lines that Europeans have created for themselves. This was stated by Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis in an interview with Ouest-France, UNN reports.
Details
Landsbergis welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron's statement about the possibility of sending Western troops to Ukraine and thanked the French government for its quick action.
This is the right time for discussions. Starting a conversation breaks down the red lines we have imposed on ourselves. No capital is too far from Kyiv for putin's army. Some of us may feel safe being far away. But the geographical fact is that the Ukrainian front line is comparable to the distance between Vilnius and London. If Ukrainians stop defending this line, imagine where it could end. This concerns each of us. The war has come to Europe, and we must once again ensure its security
He agreed that this year is crucial for the outcome of the war against Ukraine, noting that important steps must be taken by Ukraine's Western allies.
The Ukrainians are showing incredible courage, but the decisive nature of the battle depends on the Western capitals. The war depends on the amount of equipment. Ukrainians have seven times less ammunition than russia. And it's a miracle that they are still holding out
In his opinion, in addition to ammunition and the ability to send troops on missions, Europe must fulfill clear demands of the Ukrainian military: it is necessary to continue supplying modern equipment and long-range missiles.
The minister added that Lithuania joined the Czech Republic's initiative to buy 800,000 shells, and in the future Lithuania will participate in all coalitions that will help Ukraine win. He added that Lithuania spends 2.77% of GDP on defense and plans to increase spending to 3.5%. He also said that European leaders have had enough of debates that do not lead to immediate solutions and it is time to act.
Endless debates without solutions are weakening Europe. When war is so close, we must act. I don't want to be the administrator of a disaster! We have the opportunity to help Ukraine, and we must do everything we can to do so
Recall
In February, French President Emmanuel Macron called on the West to take active action in the face of the russian army's advance in Ukraine. He said that "we cannot rule out" a possible deployment of Western troops to Ukraine. He later added that his resonant words were carefully considered.
У Макрона підтвердили візит президента Франції в Україну в найближчі тижні 11.03.24, 09:16