NATO has another 3-4 years to “fully prepare for a big war in Europe.” The only way to avoid war is to be completely ready for it. This was reported by the Lithuanian media, with reference to the statement of the Minister of Defense of Lithuania Doville Shakalen at the Munich Security Conference in Germany.
Shakaline called on the European Union (EU) to form a unified position on Ukraine in the Alliance and strengthen the defense, since the EU must “pay its debt” for security for the United States.
“We can and must support each other with the United States. For this, we need to form a single European position- to demonstrate leadership in the issue of Ukrainian membership in the EU and upload money to financing defense. Now is not the time to remorse, the time has come For Europe, act in accordance with its real capabilities and reinforce its words with a weapon, ”said the head of the department.
According to Shakalin, now NATO will have to pay the US debt, which Europe has accumulated in 70 years.
“We must show that we are reliable partners,” the minister emphasized.
The statement by Shakalin was made against the backdrop of the statements of US President Donald Trump, who stated that his first meeting with Putin on the Ukrainian question “may take place in Saudi Arabia.”
In addition, US Secretary of Defense Pit Hegset warned European NATO allies that “the presence of American forces on the continent would not be eternal.”
Against this background, the Lithuanian minister called the situation a “fair cold shower” and emphasized that Europe needs to “urgently increase its military capacities”.
According to the politician, NATO has another 3-4 years to “fully prepare for a big war in Europe.”
“The only way to avoid war- to be completely ready for it. We can no longer have any illusions regarding safety,” said Shakalen.
The minister supported the position that negotiations cannot take place without the participation of Ukraine and Europe, and that real guarantees that ensure the safety of Ukraine are necessary to achieve a strong world.