Good morning.

Today, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, visiting Lithuania at the Lithuania Belarus border.

Now we are beginning the press conference of the President of Lithuania and the President of the European Commission.

I would like to invite the President of Lithuania, Gitanas Nauséda, to begin. Ministers, ladies and gentlemen.

First of all, I sincerely thank you, Madam President,

for coming to Lithuania today and visiting our border with Belarus,

the external border of the European Union.

Your presence here is a powerful signal of European solidarity.

It demonstrates that the security of Lithuania is the security of the entire European Union.

Today's meeting clearly demonstrates our shared commitment to defending the eastern border

of our Union and to strengthening the resilience of Europe as a whole.

Lithuania, together with Latvia, Estonia, Finland and Poland,

stands at the front line of this effort.

Our task is both urgent and long term to deter threats,

to strengthen resilience and to secure borders in Europe.

The Baltic Defense line and the Eastern Shield are not only national initiatives,

they are projects of common European interest.

The threats we face are real hostile combat drones,

hybrid attacks and the constant pressure of illegal migration on our borders.

The safe instrument provides us with the means to respond.

Lithuania's estimated needs amount to 8 billion investments that will strengthen our national defense,

fortify the Baltic defense line and support Ukraine.

We also highly value the Commission's initial proposal for the multiannual financial framework,

which foresees substantial financing for security and defense.

We encourage maintaining this ambition across all EU instruments.

I would like to underline the importance of military mobility.

The swift movement of military forces and equipment across EU Member States is critical.

We welcome the Commission's proposal to significantly scale up financing military mobility in

the next EU MFF and its ambition to further improved regulatory and procedural framework. We also discussed Ukraine. Security guarantees for Ukraine are indispensable.

Military assistance must be increased, and sanctions against Russia must be strengthened.

The 19th sanctions package must target key areas such as Rosatom,

oil and gas, banking, and the shadow fleet, of course.

Security guarantees must be credible,

a strong Ukrainian army combined with a substantial European and transatlantic presence. Lithuania is ready to contribute.

Finally, Ukraine's accession to the European Union is both a strategic necessity and a moral duty.

EU membership is also a security guarantee for Ukraine.

The year 2030 must stand as a target for Ukraine's membership.

Mr President, von der Leyen der Ursula,

I want to thank you for your personal leadership and tireless engagement.

Together we are sending a strong message Europe stands united and ready to defend freedom.

Mr President, I invite the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to deliver her statement.