Lithuanian FM warns Europe’s reserves depleted by Ukraine support

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys has warned that Europe's reserves are being depleted due to ongoing support for Ukraine.

In an interview with the Spanish newspaper, Budrys explained that the defence industry's inability to increase production or build new plants can be attributed to insufficient financial investment, Caliber.Az reports citing Russian media.

"When we look for answers to the question of why the defence industry is not increasing production or where the new plants are, the answer is that we aren't showing them the money," he stated. "If we show them money for a longer period of time, they will build these plants."

Budrys went on to note that Europe's reserves were already half-empty before the conflict in Ukraine, but that support for Ukraine has now left them completely drained.

"Supporting Ukraine has shown that our reserves were half empty, now they are empty, and we need to refill them," he said.

The Foreign Minister also cautioned against simplifying the issue by focusing solely on whether the new US administration is demanding more from Europe, emphasizing the broader need for strategic investment in defence capabilities.

“We must stop the aggression, not just end hostilities on the battlefield. Stopping aggression means not giving the aggressor anything to take away from the crimes that have already been committed,” Budrys said earlier while commenting on US President Donald Trump’s phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Ukraine must get a lasting and secure environment, a lasting peace,” the foreign minister underlined.

By Vafa Guliyeva