Asked by: Lord Wrottesley (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 21 March (HL5758), why the Baltic states were not invited to the meeting of European leaders on Ukraine on 2 March.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We welcome the strong support for Ukraine from our international partners, and the growing interest in contributing to the 'Coalition of the Willing'. The meeting of 2 March was one in a series of meetings aimed at intensifying efforts in pursuit of a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. The Prime Minister called Baltic leaders on the morning of the 2 March meeting, and Minister of State, Stephen Doughty, spoke to Baltic counterparts the next day. Minister Doughty also spoke with Ministers and representatives from the Baltic States at the Aurora Forum on 11 March. The Baltic States have been represented at subsequent discussions, including the most recent meeting in Paris on 27 March. UK Ministers and officials are in constant engagement with Baltic Allies on Ukraine.
Asked by: Lord Wrottesley (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government why the Baltic states were not invited to the meeting of European leaders on Ukraine that took place on the 2 March, and whether future meetings on similar matters will include the leaders of the Baltic States.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We engage regularly with the Baltic States. The Prime Minister called Baltic leaders on the morning of 2 March and all three Baltic States attended the most recent leaders' meeting on 15 March. The Foreign Secretary discussed security with Estonian and Lithuanian counterparts on 3 and 12 March respectively. The Minister of State, Stephen Doughty hosted representatives from the Baltic States at a roundtable of ministers and senior officials on 11 March and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Permanent Under-Secretary hosted Estonian and Latvian counterparts on 10 and 12 March respectively to discuss developments in Ukraine.