Ukraine proves Russia can be stopped, now it has to wrest peace – Zelensky in Vilnius

VILNIUS – Ukraine has proved that Russia can be stopped and now it needs to wrest peace from it, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in Vilnius on Wednesday.

"We have proved that Russia can be stopped, that deterrence is possible. Now we have to wrest peace from Russia's hands, the kind of peace we want – a just one - and get security for our nations. The security we need. And hope," he said.

Zelensky said that this year will be decisive in many respects.

The Ukrainian leader noted that he came to Lithuania for his first visit abroad this year.

"This is not just a visit of gratitude; it is a visit of shared trust between the nations that live in the neighborhood of Russia," he said.

Zelensky said that neither Ukraine nor Lithuania will allow Russia to destroy their statehood.

"It is unfortunate to have such an inadequate neighbor which brings only misfortune and subjugation, but we will never again be hostages to geography," the president said.

"We will not allow Russia to destroy our statehood, because together we unite others," he added.

PUTIN 'WANTS TO OCCUPY US COMPLETELY'

Zelensky said that he has not felt or heard any pressure from Kyiv's partners to stop fighting and agree to cede its currently occupied areas to Russia.

"There is no pressure from our partners to halt our defense, military actions; there is no freezing of the conflict for now," said Zelensky in Vilnius.

The Ukrainian leader drew attention to Russian President Vladimir Putin's rhetoric. 

"He is not going to stop; he wants to occupy us completely," he said. "Partners' doubts about the outcome and financial and military support to Ukraine, and the speed of their reaction only add strength and conviction to Russia." 

Zelensky reiterated that Moscow's next target could be the Baltic states.

"The Russian president will not calm down until he destroys Ukraine. After Ukraine, you know very well who is at risk. We must understand that Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Moldova may be next," he warned. 

The Ukrainian leader said that Russia may threaten Finland and Uzbekistan.

"The fact is that this will only happen if we do not withstand (Russia)," he said. "Putin won't finish all this until we all finish him together." 

CALL FOR POLITICAL SUPPORT TO KYIV

For his part, President Gitanas Nauseda said that Lithuania has supported and will continue to support Ukraine through all means – military, political and economic.

At their Vilnius summit last summer, NATO leaders pledged to invite Ukraine to join the Alliance when all of the bloc's members agree and the country meets the conditions.

Kiyv expects the Alliance's leaders to give it a clearer membership perspective at this year's Washington summit.

"Lithuania will continue to actively support Ukraine on its path to membership of the Alliance," said Nauseda.

The Lithuanian president also said that Ukraine's place is in the European Union as well. The bloc's leaders agreed in December to launch accession talks with Kiyv.

"It is necessary to help Ukraine not only militarily, but also politically," Nauseda said.

"Lithuania understands its responsibility here very well, because we are Ukraine's voice where it may not be able to directly express its expectations," he said.

After their bilateral meeting, Nauseda and Zelensky signed a joint statement emphasizing the strategic ties between Lithuania and Ukraine, and their shared values and determination to defend Ukraine's independence.