Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gintautas Budrys believes that the question of Ukraine\u2019s NATO membership has not been removed from the agenda, and in practice, one can already speak of a de facto gradual integration of Ukraine into the Alliance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The minister agreed with the assessment that Ukraine already serves, to some extent, as a security guarantor for the EU and NATO\u2019s eastern flank due to the experience, skills, and technologies gained over the years of war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThreats are very clear, especially after what happened last week in Poland, Romania, and earlier in Lithuania, when Russian drones entered our airspace. Therefore, we need an effective and adequate air defense to counter drones and other threats. And we know where to get all the knowledge \u2014 in Ukraine. This integrates us not only at the level of the defense industry but also politically and in terms of national policies,\u201d the minister said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Budrys believes that despite the \u201cquieting\u201d of public statements regarding Ukraine\u2019s future in NATO, the process continues in another form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat we are seeing now is a \u2018bottom-up\u2019 process, and it is something new. Until now, discussions about Ukraine in NATO were \u2018top-down,\u2019 meaning at the political level, and Lithuania gave strong support in those discussions\u2026 But political discussions are one approach, and now we also have another: when we de facto integrate and cooperate, one day we will decide that security arrangements have become a de facto reality,\u201d the minister explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He emphasized that he does not consider the question of Ukraine\u2019s membership removed from the agenda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAt the NATO summit, the wording was agreed that Ukraine\u2019s accession will happen \u2018when conditions allow.\u2019 This means that once we reach unanimity, it will happen very quickly, as was the case with the recent NATO accession of Sweden and Finland. But we should not waste time and should already de facto integrate more and more now,\u201d Gintautas Budrys said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNATO is, above all, Article 5. And \u2018Article 5\u2019 means that I commit to die for your security, because it is also my security. That is how personal and \u2018intimate\u2019 it is. These are the closest, most intimate relations possible. And yes, we will definitely achieve this,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n