**Lithuanian President Calls for Action to Support Ukraine**
Lithuania’s President, Gitanas Nauseda, has outlined a six-point plan to support Ukraine and strengthen European security. He made the announcement on February 19.
Nauseda wants Europe to take action now to help Ukraine and boost its own security. He believes that NATO membership should remain an option for Ukraine and that immediate funding is needed for arms and defense industry investments.
**Key Points of Nauseda’s Plan**
1. Security guarantees for Ukraine, including the possibility of NATO membership.
2. Immediate funding for arms and a 10-billion-euro investment in Ukraine’s defense industry.
3. Russia must be held accountable for war crimes and sanctions should remain in place until aggression ends.
4. Accelerate Ukraine’s EU accession with a target date of 2030.
**Concerns Over U.S.-Russia Talks**
The United States has been talking to Russia about ending the war in Ukraine, but Ukraine and Europe were not invited to these talks. This has raised concerns that an agreement may be reached without their involvement, which could put their future security at risk.
Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has said that firm security guarantees are necessary to prevent Russia from rebuilding its military and launching a new invasion.
**U.S. Defense Secretary’s Comments**
The U.S. Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, suggested on February 12 that Ukraine’s NATO membership is not a “realistic outcome” of ongoing negotiations. This has been met with skepticism by many, including Nauseda who believes that NATO membership is essential for Ukraine’s security.
**EU Takes Action**
European foreign ministers and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas spoke to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio after the U.S.-Russia talks in Riyadh. They agreed on a new package of sanctions against Russia, targeting aluminum imports and oil tankers.
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