Johnson voices UK support for Nato allies at meeting with Lithuanian PM

The Lithuanian leader says a close relationship with the UK is ‘crucial’ as ‘the times are, so to say, not the calmest’.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson welcomes the Prime Minister of Lithuania, Ingrida Simonyte, to 10 Downing Street ahead of talks (Aaron Chown/PA)
PA Wire
Amy Gibbons8 February 2022

Boris Johnson has said the UK stands “shoulder to shoulder” with Lithuania and its other Nato allies amid rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

Mr Johnson made the comments at a meeting with Ingrida Simonyte, the Prime Minister of Lithuania, in Downing Street on Tuesday.

“We are closer than ever before, I think it’s fair to say. We see eye to eye on a lot of very important matters,” he said.

Ms Simonyte said this is “crucial” because “the times are, so to say, not the calmest”, to which Mr Johnson agreed: “They’re not calm.”

The Lithuanian PM added: “It’s very to good to know that, you know, we have a very strong partner and friend and at least that we are together, like Nato and others, and I think it’s extremely good what you are doing on Ukraine.”

Mr Johnson responded: “We’re shoulder to shoulder with you and all our Nato allies and we want to make clear that we support you… we support you when it comes to the immigration issues in Belarus and all the questions that we’re now facing.”

Belarus’ leader Alexander Lukashenko an ally of Russian president Vladimir Putin, has been accused of stoking a migrant crisis on the EU’s eastern border, including in Lithuania and Poland.

Boris Johnson welcomes the Prime Minister of Lithuania, Ingrida Simonyte, to 10 Downing Street (Aaron Chown/PA)
PA Wire

A Downing Street spokesperson said Mr Johnson and Ms Simonyte went on to discuss “the UK’s unwavering support for Lithuania and the two nations’ close and historic ties”.

They said the pair agreed that any invasion by Russia into Ukraine would be a “disastrous mistake”, and “shared their concern at the severe cost to the Russian people and their economy should President Putin move his troops over Ukraine’s border”.

“The leaders also discussed their close diplomatic relations and agreed to further strengthen trade ties, including in offshore renewable energy and fintech,” the spokesperson added.

Later in the day, No 10 said Mr Johnson spoke to Mark Rutte, the Dutch Prime Minister, about “the concerning situation on Ukraine’s border”.

Boris Johnston gestures during a meeting with the Prime Minister of Lithuania, Ingrida Simonyte (Tom Nicholson/PA)
PA Wire

“Both leaders agreed the need for de-escalation and the Prime Minister said the UK remained seriously concerned at Russia’s intent towards Ukraine,” a Downing Street spokesperson said.

“They agreed on the need for Western unity in the face of Russian aggression, and the importance of preparing severe economic sanctions to deter Russia from crossing the border into Ukraine.”

It comes after Germany announced on Monday that another 350 of its soldiers would go to Lithuania to strengthen Nato’s eastern flank.

Meanwhile, UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said a further 350 British troops would be sent to Poland to send a strong signal that the two countries “stand side by side”.

Prime Minister Boris Johnston speaks to the Prime Minister of Lithuania Ingrida Simonyte (Tom Nicholson/PA)
PA Wire

Mr Johnson said later on Monday that he was considering dispatching RAF Typhoon fighters and Royal Navy warships to protect south-eastern Europe.

Writing in The Times, he said the UK “will not flinch now” and that Britain will remain “unconditional and immovable” in supporting the Nato defence alliance.

Diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukraine crisis will continue this week, with Mr Wallace and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss expected to head to Moscow for talks.

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