He underscored Lithuania's willingness to discuss sending troops to Ukraine if Kyiv formally requests Western military presence.
"Lithuania will discuss the matter with allies and ensure its presence," Budrys said.
"We would discuss with allies and partners what this would look like, and we would also consult with Ukraine. Following the Paris summit, when President Macron — who also invited Lithuania’s president — spoke about expanding military presence in Ukraine in various forms, Lithuania did not rule out this possibility."
He emphasized that Lithuania is not just a recipient of security but also an active contributor.
"We actively work to ensure security not only through diplomacy but through other means as well," the Foreign Minister added.
"If this issue arises, I have no doubt that the Lithuanian flag will be there," the foreign minister added.
Potential NATO troop deployment to Ukraine
According to Le Monde, discussions about sending Western troops to Ukraine resumed in November 2024, following Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election.
On Dec. 3, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported, citing a senior NATO official, that France and the UK were exploring security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of peace talks with Russia. One option under consideration was deploying troops from both countries along the frontlines to monitor ceasefire compliance.
On Dec. 13, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported that French President Emmanuel Macron intended to raise the issue of a potential peacekeeping mission in Ukraine at the EU leaders’ summit on Dec. 18–19, should a ceasefire be reached in the war with Russia.
According to Reuters, EU countries could deploy up to 100,000 troops to Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping mission in the event of a ceasefire.
On Dec. 19, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed support for France’s initiative to station military personnel in Ukraine as part of security guarantees and urged international partners to join these efforts.