Baltic States Support Ukraine's EU and NATO Ambitions in Joint Statement

In a unified stance, the foreign affairs committees of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have declared strong support for Ukraine's ongoing efforts against Russian aggression and its aspirations for EU and NATO membership. This declaration was made public following a meeting held on June 6 in Lithuania. The Baltic nations reiterated their commitment to Ukraine's integration into the European Union, setting a target to finalize accession proceedings and welcome Ukraine as an EU member by January 1, 2030. This ambitious timeline was highlighted in their official statement. Ukraine submitted its application for EU membership in 2022, and within a few months, it received candidate status. Discussions for accession commenced in June 2024, with European leaders aiming for a hopeful accession date of 2030. While there is substantial support for Ukraine within the EU, hurdles remain, particularly from Hungary. Prime Minister Viktor Orban previously announced that his administration would gauge public opinion concerning Ukraine's potential EU membership. The Baltic states have also called for decisive political actions at the upcoming NATO Summit in The Hague in 2025, advocating for Ukraine's membership within the alliance. They assert that bringing Ukraine into NATO would help foster a "just and lasting peace" throughout Europe and reinforce the principles of the international order. The joint statement emphasized that "Ukraine's NATO membership would provide a more effective and enduring framework for safeguarding Euro-Atlantic security." Ukraine had previously applied for NATO membership in September 2022 due to escalated hostilities, yet it has not been formally invited as a consensus has not been achieved among the 32 member nations. In addition, the Baltic countries reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine "until its full victory," encouraging enhanced defense cooperation between Ukraine and allied nations. They also proposed inviting Ukraine to participate in the U.K.-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), viewing it as a pivotal move towards enhanced regional security collaboration. The statement concluded with a call to other national parliaments, international parliamentary bodies, and relevant institutions to support this resolution, fostering continuous backing for Ukraine's victory, reconstruction, and integration into the Euro-Atlantic sphere.