"Today, Europe stands with Lithuania as a frontline state - you face Russia in Kaliningrad, you face Belarus on the border, you face geopolitical and economic challenges, you face constant military and hybrid threats," U. von der Leyen told reporters during a press conference in Medininkai on Monday.

"I heard that two drones crossed the Lithuanian-Belarusian border last month. Let me assure you - when Lithuania is tested, all of Europe is tested. We are with you in every way possible," she noted.

The EC President reiterated the message announced in Poland on Sunday that the new long-term budget of the European Union (EU) will provide additional funding for member states bordering Russia and Belarus.

"Looking at the long-term European budget, we have proposed a threefold increase in spending on migration and border protection - we are placing a strong emphasis on this. We want the Member States directly bordering Russia and Belarus to receive additional funds," said U. von der Leyen, emphasizing that protecting European borders is the responsibility of all Community countries.

EC Head: Lithuania and other EU countries have reserved all 150 billion euros of SAFE defense loan funds

European countries, including Lithuania, have applied for the entire €150 billion in loans from the European Security Action Facility (SAFE) in three months, says European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen. According to her, part of these defense loans will be directed to protecting the community's external borders.

"19 countries, including Lithuania, have already submitted applications for the SAFE program. I am pleased that the instrument has been fully utilized, applications have been submitted for the entire amount of 150 billion euros," Ursula von der Leyen told reporters at the Lithuanian-Belarusian border on Monday.

As Elta has already been informed by the Ministry of Finance, Lithuania has indicated a minimum amount of EUR 5 billion and a maximum amount of EUR 8.76 billion in its application for SAFE loans.

As confirmed by the President of Lithuania, the country expects that the SAFE loan funds will help strengthen the protection of the external border of the European Union (EU) and will be used as effectively as possible.

"The SAFE instrument is currently particularly important. As I mentioned, Lithuania has submitted an application for an 8 billion euro loan, of which 7 billion euro will be allocated to the establishment and development of our national division until 2030, another 1 billion euro will be allocated to strengthening our border protection, developing the Baltic defense line together with our neighbor Poland," Gitanas Nausėda told reporters.

According to U. von der Leyen, although negotiations on the future financial perspective of the European Union (EU) are just beginning, the community is currently looking for ways to finance the protection of the eastern border of the community in the near future.

"Although the future budget is currently still in the negotiation stage, (...) we cannot wait for the new budget, we must act now," the EC head assured.

"The instruments that we can currently use to finance border protection (ELTA) are the SAFE instrument and the national budget deficit exemption," said U. von der Leyen.

According to her, the new budget proposes a fivefold increase in defense investments and a tenfold increase in funding for military mobility.

U. von der Leyen reiterated that 800 billion euros are planned to be released for European defense in the coming years under the ReArm Europe plan.

It provides for a budget deficit exemption, allowing EU countries to exclude 1.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) spent on defence over four years, and €150 billion in defence loans from the SAFE.

EU countries have been able to apply for the €150 billion defense loan fund since the end of May.

Nausėda continues to call for confiscation of frozen Russian funds: we will try to convince partners

President Gitanas Nausėda continues to call on Europe to seize frozen Russian central bank funds and use them to rebuild war-torn Ukraine. The head of state assured after a meeting with European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen that Lithuania will do everything to convince all European Union (EU) countries to find a consensus on this issue.

"Lithuania is a strong supporter of Europe confiscating frozen Russian funds. (...) We are talking about catastrophic damage in Ukraine, for which Russia is responsible: human lives, buildings, transport infrastructure, etc. Russia must pay for this, and we will continue to try to convince skeptical European countries that using the frozen funds of the aggressor country is the right choice," G. Nausėda told reporters in Medininkai on Monday.

At the time, U. von der Leyen emphasized other measures by which Europe is mobilizing frozen Russian funds and helping Ukraine deal with losses caused by the war.

"In principle, we are positive about Lithuania's proposal. As you know, we are now taking the windfall profits generated by frozen Russian assets and we are transferring them directly to Ukraine so that it can improve its defense or carry out the necessary reconstruction," U. von der Leyen told reporters in Medininkai on Monday.

According to her, the EU has transferred about 3.7 billion euros to Ukraine in this way, and this number will continue to grow in the future. However, G. Nausėda believes that the existing mechanisms for using frozen Russian funds are not enough.

"Implementing the profits that those funds generate was a good idea, but it's not enough," the president insisted.

The EC President assured that various ways are being considered to use the country's frozen aggressor money to help Ukraine. However, she did not mention the complete confiscation of the funds.

"We are also thinking about the next steps and how best to use the frozen resources, because one thing is clear - Russia is an aggressor and it must answer for what it has done and must pay. Russia will have to pay for the damage and aggression it has caused - this is the principle we operate on. Therefore, we are looking for more ways to use the frozen funds," said U. von der Leyen.