Russia-Ukraine war: Lithuania supports lifting the ban on nuclear weapons

The Kremlin warned on Tuesday that a tentative decision by Lithuanian lawmakers to lift a constitutional ban on nuclear weapons and the possible deployment of a NATO military base in the country would signal a “further significant escalation” of tensions in the region.

The comments came shortly after Lithuania’s parliament voted in favor of pursuing constitutional reforms regarding the deployment of nuclear weapons on the territory. This is the first of two votes required for the changes, the latter of which is scheduled for January 12 next year.

The country, which is a member of both the European Union and NATO and borders the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea, has sought to lift constitutional bans to strengthen its resilience amid growing security concerns.

Lithuania has been one of Ukraine’s staunchest allies during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s more than four-and-a-half year conflict with Kiev, providing extensive military equipment and financial support.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said he would consider Lithuania’s request for a permanent US military base in the country. “These are my friends. They’re great people, so I’ll definitely consider it,” Trump said Monday.

Asked about the development on Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, “Just as the deployment of nuclear weapons to a neighboring country is impossible, it cannot be interpreted as anything other than a step towards escalating tensions,” according to Russia’s state-run TASS news agency.

“None of these developments will contribute to the stability and predictability of the European continent. On the contrary, unfortunately, they will once again mark a serious escalation of tensions. As for Russia, of course, Moscow will be forced to take all necessary measures to ensure its own security,” Peskov said.

Article 137 of the Lithuanian Constitution explicitly prohibits the deployment of weapons of mass destruction and the establishment of foreign military bases on Lithuanian territory. The revised bill would require the support of at least 94 of the 141 members of parliament to pass, and this provision would be removed.

Lithuanian Parliament Speaker Fuosas Orekas said lifting the restrictions would strengthen the country’s resilience and eliminate legal distinctions between Lithuania and other EU and NATO countries.

“We will ensure the strong support available to us,” Orecas said, according to state broadcaster LRT.

“By addressing the legal exceptions that Lithuania had compared to other EU and NATO countries, they will disappear and we will be equal,” he added.