Lithuania backs plan to double EU military aid for Ukraine

17/3/2025 5:54

Lithuania on Sunday

backed an EU proposal to pledge up to 40 billion euros ($43.5

billion) in military aid for Ukraine this year and said a

similar amount would also be needed in future years to deter any

future Russian attack.



"If we can sustain this amount ... for a longer period of

time, that would be the amount that would allow Ukrainians to

keep their armed forces at current strength," Lithuanian Foreign

Minister Kestutis Budrys told Reuters on Sunday.



Budrys spoke on the eve of a meeting of EU foreign ministers

in Brussels that will discuss the proposal, put forward by the

bloc's diplomatic service, headed by former Estonian Prime

Minister Kaja Kallas.



The meeting comes at a time of uncertainty about the outcome

of U.S. negotiations with Russia, the future of U.S. assistance

to Ukraine and Washington's commitment to European security.



EU diplomats suggested doubling military aid to Ukraine to

as much as 40 billion euros, according to a document seen by

Reuters on Friday.



While some EU countries have responded cautiously to the

initiative, Budrys said long-term military support for Ukraine

should not depend on the outcome of any peace talks as it was

already clear Kyiv would need to maintain strong armed forces.



"Ukraine's armed forces will be the main deterrence forces

for Russians not to return," he said.



Lithuania has been among Ukraine’s staunchest supporters

since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022 and is

among Europe's top defence spenders as a percentage of GDP.



The Baltic country spent 2.85% of GDP on defence in 2024,

according to NATO estimates, and has committed to raising that

figure to 5% to 6% between 2026 and 2030.