Lithuanian president warns against repeating the ‘appeasement’ mistake that led to WWII
Lithuania President Gitanas Nauseda is speaking now – the first EU leader to address the General Debate.
Much of his speech has been focused on Russian aggression and the need for a comprehensive, powerful global response.
“We cannot ignore the striking parallels between the present day and the events of 1938 – a time when the world chose appeasement over international law and diplomacy over deterrence, culminating in the infamous Munich Pact.”
The Munich Pact or Munich agreement was a settlement between Germany, the UK, Italy and France, allowing Hitler to annex territory in Czechoslovakia that was populated by an ethnic German population.
“That was a short-sighted attempt to satisfy a dangerous revisionist aggressor by giving away the territory of a sovereign nation. It proved to be a complete failure,” he noted.
Western countries issue statement of support for Ukraine, without US
Top diplomats from countries across the West have issued a statement stressing political, military and economic support for Ukraine as it fends off the Russian invasion.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, flanked by his regional counterparts, read out parts the statement to reporters at the UN Security Council.
“Together, we urge all the other partners to use their influence and maximise pressure on Russia to immediately end this war and work towards a just and lasting peace,” it said.
“We remain in unwavering support of Ukraine.”
The statement called on Moscow to enter into “meaningful negotiations” with Kyiv.
It was backed by 23 countries, including France, Germany, the UK and Canada. But the US did not sign onto it.
