Peace agreement must be reached with Ukraine’s full involvement – Nausėda
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said that the new US administration must ensure Kyiv's full participation in negotiations to end hostilities, and added that a solution to the conflict should not be reached bilaterally between Moscow and Washington.
The politician said this in an interview with the Associated Press, Censor.NET reports.
Nauseda is convinced that "it would be unacceptable if peace was established behind closed doors and without Ukraine's participation."
"Ukraine has paid a very high price in this war. Ukraine has lost many human lives. Infrastructure, buildings and homes have been destroyed. The Ukrainian people deserve the right to set the terms of this peace. I think President Donald Trump understands this: no peace talks without Ukraine," the Lithuanian leader said.
He also added that the cessation of hostilities in Ukraine should take place with the full participation of Kyiv and subject to increased defense spending by European countries to avoid any future Russian aggression.
Nauseda emphasized that a peace agreement concluded without proper deterrence measures would allow Russia to consolidate its forces and prepare for further aggression.
According to the politician, even when a ceasefire is reached in Ukraine, "we cannot believe that Russia's intentions will be to just stop and do nothing."
"They (the Russians - ed.) will use this break to consolidate, strengthen their military capabilities and strike again in the future. And then the main question is what will be Russia's next target? Perhaps Ukraine. Maybe the Baltic states," Nauseda said.
