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No Secure Europe Without Ukraine: Lithuania Unveils Hardline 2026 Defense Strategy
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
Ukraine has emerged as a central pillar of Lithuania’s updated National Security Strategy for 2026, according to an assessment published by Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service on January 4.
The draft strategy, prepared by the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence, explicitly states that European security is impossible without an independent, sovereign, and well-protected Ukraine that is fully integrated into the Euro-Atlantic space.
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Under the proposed framework, Lithuania plans to allocate at least 0.25% of its GDP every year to security and defense assistance for Ukraine. The support package would include continued training of Ukrainian troops, the supply of military equipment, and broader, long-term backing for Kyiv’s defense capabilities.
The strategy also labels Russia as an existential threat to Lithuania and to the broader transatlantic community. Lithuanian officials assess that Moscow could be prepared for large-scale military confrontation with NATO as early as 2030.
According to the document, Lithuania’s national security policy will rest on three core pillars: strengthening armed defense, enhancing national resilience, and shaping the international security environment. To support these goals, Vilnius reaffirmed plans to raise defense spending to 5–6 percent of GDP by 2030, far exceeding NATO’s baseline requirements.
Beyond Russia, the strategy identifies Belarus as a source of instability due to its deep military and political dependence on Moscow. It also highlights China and other states accused of enabling Russia through the transfer of technology and dual-use goods.
At the same time, Lithuania intends to deepen regional cooperation through formats such as the Nordic-Baltic Eight and the Northern Group. These platforms are designed to complement NATO while also serving as mechanisms to expand and institutionalize support for Ukraine, which Vilnius views as a key stabilizing force in Europe’s long-term security architecture.
Earlier, Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry accused Moscow of attempting to sabotage recent understandings reached between US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Mar-a-Lago by spreading false claims about an alleged Ukrainian drone attack on a Russian presidential residence.
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