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On 3-4 February in Tallinn, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius participated in the meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Baltic States and the Benelux countries. The meeting discussed the situation in Ukraine, regional security, the European Union’s counter terrorism, and other important issues on the European and international agendas.

The meeting discussed further Russian sanctions in the run-up to the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council and the informal European Council. L.Linkevičius stressed that Russia, which was carrying out aggression against its own neighbour, was responsible for the destabilisation of the situation in eastern Ukraine, therefore, further EU sanctions should also target Russian officials.

The Ministers also discussed the deteriorating situation in Ukraine and the need to help this country.

“We have to provide every type of assistance to Ukraine: political, financial, economic and military,” said L.Linkevičius.

The Minister also drew attention to the need to strengthen information security in the EU member states in response to Russia’s growing propaganda.

The meetings of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands are held in one of these countries every year. In 2009, the annual meeting took place in Vilnius. Minister for Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg Jean Asselborn invited his counterparts to convene in Luxembourg next year.

Photo: Estonia’s Foreign Ministry