Vilnius, Lithuania
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has warned that NATO risks damaging its international reputation if it walks back on earlier commitments to Ukraine’s future membership in the alliance.
His comments were shared by the Telegram channel “Sputnik Lithuania,” where Nausėda emphasized the consequences of backing away from previously stated positions. He referenced language from recent NATO summits that had expressed strong support for Ukraine’s long-term membership prospects.
“For the past three summits, we’ve reinforced the language around Ukraine’s future in NATO,” Nausėda said. “To now simply erase that progress would seriously damage NATO’s authority. It would deal a huge blow to the alliance’s reputation.”
His remarks come at a time when Ukraine’s path toward NATO remains a contested issue within the alliance. While some member states have been vocal about opening doors to Kyiv, others remain cautious, citing security risks and broader geopolitical concerns.
The balance NATO seeks to maintain — supporting Ukraine without provoking further escalation — has shaped its official communications. But leaders like Nausėda argue that credibility is built on consistency. Changing the tone or walking back promises, even slightly, could lead to doubt among both members and partners.
The next NATO summit is expected to revisit the question of Ukraine’s status. So far, firm timelines have not been agreed upon. The language used in communiqués has leaned toward conditional support, usually tied to reforms and the outcome of the war with Russia.
Nausėda’s comments suggest that, at least for some countries, the symbolic weight of membership matters just as much as the military or strategic aspects.
Whether that will influence the broader alliance stance remains to be seen. But the message from Vilnius is clear. For Lithuania, keeping NATO’s word means more than diplomatic phrasing. It’s about trust.
