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On 30 June, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius met with the United States Deputy National Security Advisor Avril Haines, leaders and experts of think tanks based in Washington, D.C. On 1 July, Linkevičius also met with the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs at the United States Department of State Victoria Nuland and the Special Advisor for Europe and Eurasia at Office of the Vice President Anna Makanju. In the meetings, Lithuania’s Foreign Minister discussed strengthening transatlantic security, the upcoming NATO Summit in Warsaw, issues related to Ukraine and sanctions against Russia.

The meeting with Haines focused on the next NATO’s Summit, also on steps taken by the U.S. and the allies to ensure NATO eastern members’ safety and security. A lot of attention was dedicated to the implementation of the Minsk agreements and to the necessity to support Ukraine, to discuss information security and the fight against propaganda.

“We greatly appreciate efforts of the U.S. leadership aiming for success of NATO’s Summit in Warsaw and for taking specific decisions regarding greater NATO presence in Lithuania and in our region. The next NATO’s Summit must properly assess the changing geopolitical landscape and send a clear message about the Alliance’s readiness to defend its member countries,” said Lithuania’s Foreign Minister.

Haines thanked Lithuania for its contribution to the fight against terrorism and this week’s decision to send military instructors and civilian personnel to Iraq as part of the US-led coalition against the terrorist group Daesh.

Lithuania’s Foreign Minister also participated in a round table discussion with leaders and experts of influential non-governmental organizations based in Washington, D.C., such as the McCain Institute, Hudson Institute, Atlantic Council, National Endowment for Democracy, Center for European Policy Analysis, German Marshall Fund, Center for Strategic and International Studies. The participants discussed issues related to security, threats posed by Russia, aggression against Ukraine, as well as the impact of the results of the United Kingdom’s referendum on the transatlantic community. The participants of the discussion thanked Lithuania for its active role and a principled position on Russia’s aggression, assistance to Ukraine and other European Union’s Eastern Partnership countries.

Linkevičius also visited the headquarters of the National Public Radio and the Voice of America Russian Service, where he gave an interview about security, NATO, sanctions against the Kremlin’s aggressive policy and Brexit.

Lithuania’s Foreign Minister also met with Bill Burns, President of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.