From the beginning of the Russian intervention in Ukraine, the Baltic countries, neighbors of Russia and Belarus, reacted immediately. On Thursday evening, Lithuanians march through the streets of the country in support of the Ukrainians.
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In the streets of the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, on Thursday February 24 there are many blue and yellow flags, in the colors of Ukraine. The ties between the two countries are very strong. Many Ukrainians came to Lithuania after 2014. The two countries have a long common history. Many appeals for donations are relayed on social networks. But here we oscillate between fear (how far can Vladimir Putin go?) and resignation, with the feeling that the West has not listened to the many warnings. In Lithuania, we are well aware that even beyond Lithuania, it is now Europe that is targeted by the Russian president.
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The parliament met to adopt the state of emergency declared Thursday morning by the president. It is above all a question of strengthening the external borders, by authorizing new reinforced controls. Lithuania has 300 kilometers of borders with the Kaliningrad enclave, a highly militarized Russian territory, and 700 kilometers with Belarus. About 30,000 Russian soldiers are still there after the joint military exercises.
The three Baltic countries have also requested the activation of Article 4 of NATO, which allows extensive consultations between allies in the event of a threat. For several weeks, sensing the danger, they asked for NATO reinforcements. The American president has just promised 800 soldiers and air assets.
In addition, the Council of Ministers approved an aid of 1.8 million euros to Ukraine in equipment for civil protection, in humanitarian aid. A government mission has been in Kiev for a few weeks to survey the country’s needs. Help from Lithuania and the other two Baltic countries is also very concrete. They have also supplied arms to Ukraine, notably missile launchers. But for the Lithuanian president who was still with Kiev on Wednesday February 23 with his Polish counterpart, the doors of the EU and NATO must be opened to Ukraine, even if it is Vladimir Putin’s worst nightmare. .