Vikrant Shekhawat : Feb 01, 2025, 01:00 AM
Russia-Ukraine War: The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine remains a matter of global concern. Meanwhile, Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda has made important remarks about this war. He stressed that Kiev's full participation in the talks to end the war is imperative. He believes that regional countries should spend more on their defense to avoid Russian aggression in the future.Who will be Russia's next target?President Gitanas Nauseda said in an interview to the 'Associated Press' that any agreement made without proper preventive measures would give Russia an opportunity to strengthen its army and prepare for future aggression. He warned that despite the ceasefire in Ukraine, it would be wrong to assume that Russia would stop its military activities.Nauseda clearly said, "Russia will use this pause to strengthen its military capabilities and may attack again in the future. In this situation, the next question arises who will be Russia's next target? Possibly the Baltic countries." This statement indicates that there are serious concerns about security in Europe and concrete steps are needed to maintain regional stability.'Kiev should fully participate in the talks'Lithuania was under the control of the Soviet Union until 1990. Currently, the country is an active member of NATO and recently became the first member of the organization to commit to increasing its defense expenditure to 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). This step is in line with the appeal of former US President Donald Trump, in which he requested NATO members to increase their defense capability.President Nauseda stressed that the new US administration should ensure that Ukraine fully participates in the peace talks. He cautioned that the process of war resolution should not be carried out only through bilateral talks between Moscow and Washington. He believes that Kiev should be made an integral part of this dialogue, so that Ukraine's sovereignty and security can be ensured.Regional security and the need for international cooperationGiven the security concerns of countries like Lithuania, it is clear that Europe needs to adopt a strong defense strategy. NATO and other EU member states must remain united to counter Russia's aggressive attitude.Nauseda's comments highlight the fact that the impact of the ongoing war in Ukraine is not limited to Eastern Europe but can widely impact the whole of Europe and global politics. A balanced and coordinated strategy is necessary to resolve this conflict, ensuring the security of not only Ukraine but the entire region.