EU should stop ‘westsplaining’ and listen to its eastern members – they saw the Ukraine war coming

Given its geographical proximity and vivid memory of the Soviet occupation, it would seem like common sense to give greater weight to the views of Lithuania and its neighbours than other nations. Viktoriia Lapa asks why doesn’t this happen?

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (standing) addresses people as (from left to right) Vytautas Landsbergis, first head of the Lithuania state, Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda, first lady Diana Nepaite and former Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite sit behind him, in Vilnius, Lithuania, in January 2024. Photo: Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP

It’s rare for the words of Lithuanian government officials to make the top of the news outside the country. Lithuania’s views aren’t even a top priority among its allies. But perhaps it’s time that changed.

Following February’s Munich security conference, Lithuanian foreign minister Gabrielius Landsbergis warned: "We don’t lack capacity, we lack the political will and urgency necessary to support Ukraine and maintain our collective security.