The leader of Lithuania called President Donald Trump’s speech to the United Nations on Tuesday ‘strong’, especially when it comes to protecting the border.
Lithuania shares a border between 422 miles with Belarus and a border between 161 miles with Russia (Kaliningrad).
“We built the fence, a physical barrier, and provided the tools that are needed for a modern surveillance system. Now the country is safe,” Nausėda said. ‘We pushed back on those migrants who come in [our] country. “
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Lithuania President Gitanas Nausėda focuses on the 80th General Assembly of the United Nations at the UN headquarters in New York, US, September 23, 2025. (Reuters/Mike Segar)
Nausėda also approved the harder line that the Trump administration takes on with Russia.
“It was a strong speech. It was a speech that dealt with very important topics,” he said. “With the lever that President Donald Trump has – he will be able to press Vladimir Putin to come to the negotiating table because we can only do it by proving our strength.”
Lithuania is one of the Baltic countries in Northeastern Europe with a population of 2.85 million. It has been a member of NATO and the European Union since 2004. Lithuania was occupied by the Soviet Union from 1940 to 1941 and again from 1944 to 1990. On March 11, 1990, Lithuania became the first Soviet Republic who declared its independence, which became officially in 1991.
The interview was held outside the United Nations shortly before President Trump placed Truth Social that Ukraine can win war and restore all its territory that is currently ‘in its original form’. Trump also called Russia a ‘paper tiger’.
Nowadays Russia occupies around 20% of the country.
Nausėda said that Putin is not ready for peace in Ukraine because of ‘old imperialist ambitions’.
The Lithuanian president spoke to the UN general meeting a few hours after Trump. “We don’t believe in appeasement,” said Nausėda. When he was asked to work out, the president said: “I remember that many leaders in West -Europe wanted to talk to Vladimir Putin, try to appease and prevent him from having aggression against Ukraine. It was not helping, and it probably led to the conclusion that there is only a power to speak.”
Nausėda welcomed Trump’s efforts to encourage European countries to impose sanctions on Russia and secondary sanctions against those who buy Russian oil and gas.
The Lithuanian president had harsh words for some members of the European Union who continue to do business with Russia.
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US President Donald Trump speaks with Lithuania President Gitanas Nausėda during a NATO top in The Hague, the Netherlands, 25 June 2025. (Reuters/Toby Melville)
“There should be no assessment between economic benefits and geopolitical goals because we are talking about our safety. If we pay for Russian gas or oil today, we can be attacked tomorrow because this money feeds the war machine of Russia.”
Two months after Russia had launched its entire invasion in Ukraine, Lithuania ended the import of Russian oil and gas.
Asked if Putin could attack a NATO nation one day, Nausėda replied: “We must be prepared. We have to do something in our hands to scare off [them.] I believe in deterrence, but we have to build a credible wall of deterrence. This is why Lithuania is very enthusiastic about President Donald Trump’s profession to spend more on defense. We are ready to spend 5% and more. 2035 is not okay for us. We want to spend between 5 and 6% from 2026. ”
Today a fifth of the military purchasing of Lithuania is spent on American weapons, the president said.
After a recent infringement of the NATO air spacious about another Baltic country, Estonia said, by three armed Russian MIG-31 Foxhounds, Nausėda said his country would be ready to act if such a violation would take place in his country. “We have enough options,” he said.
US President Donald Trump gives a speech during the general debate of the 80th session of the General Meeting of the United Nations (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, September 23, 2025. (Li Rui/Xinhua via Getty images)
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When asked about reports that the Pentagon reduced some security financing for the Baltic states, Nausėda did not seem overly delivered. “It’s not a final decision.”
Lithuania, together with the other Baltic States, recently announced that it would leave the Ottawa convention, so that they can use anti-person land lessons while the country strengthens its limit to better protect itself against neighboring Russia and Belarus.
Nausėda hopes that the 1200 American soldiers who have been deployed in his country will remain. Four were killed during a training accident in March. They received full military awards in the capital.
“Vilnius is [a] Great capital. We have a very nice nature, and we have very friendly people, “said Nausėda.
