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On 3 March in Brussels, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius attended an extraordinary meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council on the situation in Ukraine.

The Foreign Affairs Council strongly condemned the recent clear violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity by the Russian army’s aggression. The EU Foreign Ministers called on Russia to immediately withdraw its troops to the areas where they were permanently stationed on the basis of bilateral agreements for armed forces stationed in Crimea.

“We are exposed to a situation reminiscent of the events of 2008 in Georgia. Have we learnt the lessons of that period? I’m afraid that we have not. A threat of yet another frozen conflict has emerged in Europe. The international community must not allow such actions - a clear breach of international law and infringement of inviolability of the state border. These events should not derail European aspirations of the EU neighbours,” the Lithuanian Foreign Minister L.Linkevičius said.

The EU Foreign Ministers assessed Russia’s actions with respect to Ukraine and agreed that the EU should decide about consequences for bilateral relations between the EU and Russia in the absence of de-escalating steps by Russia, including suspending bilateral talks on visa issues and the New Agreement with the EU. The EU shall also consider possible targeted measures.

“Today, the EU is sending a strong signal to Russia that we support the new Government of Ukraine, recognize and commend its efforts to stabilize the situation in the country as well as to keep up the reforms. The EU is ready to sign the Association Agreement, including Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area with Ukraine. Therefore, the EU has to immediately lend an assistance package to help stabilize the situation in Ukraine,” L.Linkevičius said.

The EU Foreign Ministers agreed in the EU territory to freeze the assets of members of the former Ukrainian Government suspected of wasting the country’s budget and of violating human rights.

 The EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton urgently convened this session in response to events unfolding in Crimea.

Photo: The Council of the European Union.