If Ukraine isn't offered NATO membership, it will be mistake - former Lithuanian President Grybauskaitė

She said this at a conference at Vilnius University, LRT reports.

Grybauskaitė said that if Ukraine is not directly offered membership in the Alliance, but instead offered support in statements, it would be a mistake.

"Again, this will be a mistake. We will not be able to contain Russia again," she said.

In addition, it is known that the former president believes that the West is still living in a completely "different time" in contrast to Russia, which has mobilized its entire society and industry for the war against Ukraine.

"We failed to deter Russia, we failed to keep Russia from war. We still cannot explain to people what to do. We still have not been able to arm (Ukrainians - ed.) so that they can strike back," Grybauskaitė emphasized.

She recalled that after Russia's occupation of Crimea in 2014, Baltic politicians warned Western leaders about the threat from Russia, but there was no reaction.

"We were laughed at, criticized and not heard. Now, when we meet with leaders, former leaders, they complain and say that we were right. But why are they not listening to us now? Again, we are heard, but not listened to," Grybauskaitė added.

Ukraine's path to NATO membership:

Ukraine hopes to receive clear decisions on joining the Alliance in July during the NATO meeting in Vilnius. On May 23, Ukraine's ambassador to NATO, Natalia Galibarenko, mentioned that Ukraine is preparing two cooperation packages (political and practical), which will be presented for discussion during the upcoming NATO Summit in Vilnius. 

On May 30, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba outlined three key points that define Ukraine's vision for a successful outcome at the NATO summit in Vilnius. "Strengthen Ukraine-NATO institutional ties and assistance. Take a step toward UA membership. Provide security guarantees on Ukraine’s path to NATO." 

On June 10, Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister, Volodymyr Havrylov, expressed his belief that the July NATO summit in Vilnius  will set the algorithm for Ukraine's accession to the Alliance.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg confirmed that Ukraine will become a NATO member in the future, but due to the ongoing war, specific dates for accession cannot be determined. However, he is confident that during the Vilnius summit, the member countries will work towards finding a solution regarding Ukraine's progress.

On June 15, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling for Ukraine's membership in NATO with 425 votes in favor. 

On June 16, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called on NATO chief Stoltenberg to drop the Membership Action Plan (MAP) if Ukraine joins NATO.

US President Joe Biden expressed support for removing the MAP stage, making the joining process simpler for Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized Ukraine's role in Europe's defense and called on allies to invite the country to NATO.

James Cleverly, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in the UK, assured support for Ukraine's simplified entry into NATO.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine has valid reasons to receive a political invitation to NATO at the Vilnius summit.

On June 28, during a speech in parliament on Constitution Day, President Zelenskyy proposed 5 points of the Ukrainian Doctrine, which stipulates that Ukraine's future lies in the EU and NATO, for discussion.

On June 30, US Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith said that NATO member states are close to a consensus on Ukraine's accession to NATO without the MAP.