**Baltic States Unite in Support of Ukraine’s EU and NATO Membership**
The parliamentary foreign affairs committees of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have issued a joint statement, affirming their strong support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia. The Baltic states also pledged to help Ukraine join the European Union (EU) and NATO.
**Goal: Full EU Membership by 2030**
At a meeting in Lithuania on June 6, the Baltic countries reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Ukraine’s integration into the EU. They stated that they aim to complete accession talks and welcome Ukraine as a full EU member by January 1, 2030. This goal was set after Ukraine applied for EU membership in 2022 and was granted candidate status shortly afterwards.
**Challenges Ahead**
While there is broad support for Ukraine’s accession into the EU, Hungary remains an obstacle to this process. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced that his government would conduct a public opinion survey on Ukraine’s potential EU membership. Despite this hurdle, the Baltic states remain committed to supporting Ukraine’s integration into the EU and NATO.
**NATO Membership: A Priority**
The statement from the Baltic countries also emphasized the importance of Ukraine joining NATO. They urged the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague to take concrete steps towards Ukraine’s membership in the alliance. The Baltic states believe that Ukraine’s NATO accession would provide a more effective framework for safeguarding Euro-Atlantic security and upholding the rules-based international order.
**Support Until Victory**
The joint statement reaffirmed the Baltic countries’ pledge to support Ukraine until its full victory over Russia. They also welcomed expanding defense cooperation between Ukraine and like-minded partners, including inviting Ukraine to join the U.K.-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF).
**A Call to Action**
In conclusion, the statement calls on other national parliaments, international parliamentary assemblies, governments, and responsible institutions to endorse this statement and take corresponding actions to ensure continued support for Ukraine’s victory, reconstruction, and integration into the Euro-Atlantic community.
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