Lithuania supports doubling EU military aid for Ukraine

Lithuania has supported an EU plan to provide up to 40 billion euros in military aid to Ukraine this year. The country emphasized that a similar amount will be necessary in future years to deter potential Russian attacks. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys stated that sustaining this level of aid is crucial for maintaining Ukraine's armed forces. He spoke ahead of an EU foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels to discuss the proposal. While some EU nations are cautious, Budrys argued that Ukraine's military support should not rely on peace talks, as strong armed forces are essential for deterrence against Russia. Lithuania has been a strong ally of Ukraine since the 2022 invasion.