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On 2 September, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Kęstutis Budrys is attending an informal meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers (Gymnich) in Ireland. Speaking to journalists ahead of the meeting, the Minister said that worrying developments have already shaped the agenda for the new political season.

“Russia’s attacks against us are no longer hybrid, they are highly kinetic. Yesterday, it was officially stated that Russia is responsible for the incident in Leipzig on 4 August. We must consider response measures, as it is clear that Russia does not see any political cost for its hybrid activities against us,” said Budrys. “One of the reasons Russia is doing this is to demonstrate dominance on the battlefield in Ukraine—which is not there—and, ahead of the rigged Duma elections, to show that it can do whatever it wants in Europe.”

According to Lithuania’s Foreign Minister, based on certain estimates, the number of hybrid attacks has quadrupled in recent years, making them a cheap way for Russia to sow tension within our societies.

“Our goal is to show that these activities will neither intimidate us nor deter us from supporting Ukraine and putting pressure on Russia. On the contrary, we must increase the pressure. We must step up not only military but also civilian support for Ukraine. This requires more funding, so today is the right time and place to discuss frozen assets so that Ukraine does not go without heating this winter,” said Budrys.

The Minister also emphasized that, in preparation for the United Nations General Assembly, Europe must send a message to the world about Russia’s weaponisation of food, including its obstruction of Ukrainian export routes and its export of grain from the occupied territories.

For the Minister’s full statement, please click here: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/media/video/I-293819