Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda called on NATO to send more troops to Eastern Europe, including his country, CNN reports.

Nausėda discussed the issue with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who was on a visit to the Lithuanian capital Vilnius.

The parties discussed military assistance to Ukraine, the status of Ukraine as an EU candidate country and sanctions against Russia and Belarus.

Germany leads the NATO battle group in Lithuania. As of March 22, at least 28,000 Allied soldiers were stationed there, according to the latest NATO figures.

Nauseda said he wants the air guard to be moved to air and missile defense, as well as a transition from forward presence to forward defense.

Nauseda also wants to strengthen NATO's presence in the Suwalki corridor, which runs along the Lithuanian-Polish border and links Belarus with Kaliningrad.

According to Nauseda, the West should also introduce additional sanctions against Russia and Belarus.

According to the latest NATO information, as of March 21, 40,000 Allied troops were stationed in the Baltic States, as well as in Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria.