UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has apologized to the leaders of the Baltic states for not inviting them to a summit about Ukraine, Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT reported, citing the Lithuanian president’s advisor.
Starmer spoke with the leaders in an online video meeting on Sunday, hours before welcoming a select group of powerful European leaders at the doorstep of Lancaster House in London, where the talks will take place.
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were not invited to the summit and were reported to be “very unhappy” about the situation, the UK media reported.
The UK prime minister spoke with Estonian President Alar Karis, Latvian PM Evika Silina and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda and reiterated the Baltic states are key partners for the UK. He also promised to update them about the summit.
“Prime Minister Starmer began the conversation with an apology, promising that such a situation would not happen again,” Asta Skaisgirytė, the Lithuanian president’s advisor, told LRT following the discussion.
“Nausėda expressed significant dissatisfaction over the lack of an invitation to London,” she added.
In a statement released by the Lithuanian president’s office, Nausėda stated: “The threats posed by the aggressor (Russia) on NATO’s eastern flank require the Alliance to demonstrate unity, the credibility of collective defense, and the effectiveness of deterrence.”
According to the statement, the leaders discussed transatlantic cooperation within NATO and developing Europe’s defense industry.
The Lithuanian president also highlighted the need to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine and to further strengthen economic pressure and sanctions against the Kremlin. Additionally, he reiterated the importance of a tribunal to address Russia’s war crimes in Ukraine.
The high-profile Sunday summit held in London will be attended by the leaders of Poland, France, Germany, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Finland, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Romania and Turkey.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa are also expected to arrive.
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were not invited to the summit and were reported to be “very unhappy” about the situation, the UK media reported.
The UK prime minister spoke with Estonian President Alar Karis, Latvian PM Evika Silina and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda and reiterated the Baltic states are key partners for the UK. He also promised to update them about the summit.
“Prime Minister Starmer began the conversation with an apology, promising that such a situation would not happen again,” Asta Skaisgirytė, the Lithuanian president’s advisor, told LRT following the discussion.
“Nausėda expressed significant dissatisfaction over the lack of an invitation to London,” she added.
In a statement released by the Lithuanian president’s office, Nausėda stated: “The threats posed by the aggressor (Russia) on NATO’s eastern flank require the Alliance to demonstrate unity, the credibility of collective defense, and the effectiveness of deterrence.”
According to the statement, the leaders discussed transatlantic cooperation within NATO and developing Europe’s defense industry.
The Lithuanian president also highlighted the need to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine and to further strengthen economic pressure and sanctions against the Kremlin. Additionally, he reiterated the importance of a tribunal to address Russia’s war crimes in Ukraine.
The high-profile Sunday summit held in London will be attended by the leaders of Poland, France, Germany, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Finland, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Romania and Turkey.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa are also expected to arrive.
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