Landsbergis Points to Western Failure in Protecting Ukraine: Responsibility for the ‘De-Facto’ Capitulation
Former Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis has issued a resonant statement regarding the West’s role in the Ukraine situation, unequivocally blaming European countries and the United States for facilitating a de-facto capitulation scenario that could lead to the loss of Ukrainian independence.
According to Landsbergis, if Ukraine is forced to accept «de-facto» occupation regimes on its territory, it will signify a defeat for the entire Western world, which has ignored long-standing warnings and repeated past mistakes by allowing the destruction of Ukrainian sovereignty.
“It is on us — we are the architects of this ‘de-facto’ defeat,” he emphasized in his blog, highlighting the West’s responsibility in shaping such a scenario.Landsbergis draws parallels with the recent history of the Baltic states under Russian occupation, warning that European leaders often exhibit an illusory optimism about long-term peace, ignoring the deep scars left by decades of repression and deportations.
At the same time, he criticizes the Western policy that proposes tools which effectively contribute to Ukraine’s disintegration, arguing that this path is not toward peace but an insult to democratic ideals.
“Should Ukraine trust in Western guarantees of security that will wipe away the shame of the Budapest Memorandum and give hope for the future?” Landsbergis questions, emphasizing that concessions like ‘de-facto’ occupation are nothing but surrender, not a solution.He also calls on Western politicians to listen to the voices of victims of Russian aggression and underscores the need for real engagement with those suffering from the war.
“Ask the families of Victoria Roshina, who was wounded in a Russian attack and now buried in Kyiv with brutal violence,” he states.
Landsbergis compares the situation with history, stressing that Ukrainians experiencing Russian aggression truly understand the difference between ‘de-facto’ and ‘de-jure’, and that this difference matters for policymakers.
Paper agreements that are unenforceable or unprotected can have catastrophic human consequences.He reminds that politics must become more responsible and honest because, behind it, lies not only Ukraine’s fate but also global stability in the long term.
This must be considered in Europe’s and the West’s diplomatic strategies — regardless of the temptations of backroom deals or quick-fix solutions that ignore real human suffering.