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On 21 February, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis attended the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union in Brussels, which focused on the European security situation, the ongoing ceasefire violations and provocations in eastern Ukraine, as well as the EU's further actions and coordination with its like-minded partners.

"It is already clear today that Russian forces sent to Belarus will remain on the external borders of the European Union for an indefinite period of time. This has not been the case for three decades and it fundamentally changes the security architecture of Europe. This is not the first time that the Kremlin has tried to compel the West to make concessions and give in to Russia's unreasonable demands under the threat of military force. It is not only Ukraine that is under attack. This is the battle for the principles on which our democratic and security system is based, and Ukraine is on the front lines", said Landsbergis.  

According to Landsbergis, it is very clear who is the victim and who is the aggressor here. We therefore need to talk about sanctions and the damage done now.

"Ukraine is already under attack. It has been subjected to a large scale hybrid attack, constant threats of provocations and Russian invasion, which also have a negative impact on the Ukrainian economy. There is no need to wait for a Russian military attack, we have to react now. The response of the EU and its partners to Russian provocations and aggressive actions must be swift, decisive, ruthless, and have severe consequences for Russia. The sanctions package must be prepared and imposed on Russia not only in the event of its military escalation, but also in response to provocations, a massive hybrid attack or a disinformation campaign," noted Landsbergis.

EU foreign ministers discussed the escalating situation with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

"It is important to clearly show our support and solidarity to Ukraine and its people. The country has suffered significant economic losses as a result of Russian aggression. We should provide additional financial support to Ukraine to ensure that its economy survives this difficult period. It is crucial to help Ukrainians strengthen the country's economic resilience and defence capabilities," said the Foreign Minister. Landsbergis also called on his EU counterparts to make sure there was a continuous flow of their high-level visits to Kyiv.

In addition, Landsbergis highlighted the critical role of Belarus in pan-European security.

"Lukashenko's regime is actively involved in Russian aggression against Ukraine. The extension of the Russian-Belarusian military drills and the increased risk of a military intervention in northern Ukraine are of great concern. The indefinite deployment of Russian troops on Belarusian territory is a sign of the annexation of Belarus and a drastic change in the security situation in the region", the Foreign Minister said, calling for an early agreement on the extension of individual and sectoral sanctions on Belarus.

Photos: The European Union