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On 16 March, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis had a phone conversation with the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoshimasa Hayashi. The Foreign Ministers discussed strengthening bilateral relations between Lithuania and Japan, Russian aggression against Ukraine and its impact on the security situation in Europe and the Indo-Pacific region, the rapprochement between Russia and China, possible attempts by China to use the war in Europe to achieve its goals in the region, as well as the provision of further assistance to Ukraine.

Landsbergis noted that both Lithuania and Japan considered Russia's war in Ukraine, aggressive actions by China in the region and its economic violence as a threat to the security of the whole world, not only of Europe or Asia. “The rules-based international order, which ensured peace and prosperity in the world after the Second World War, is under attack. The entire democratic community must unanimously oppose attempts by authoritarian countries to create a new reality and make it clear that the use of force in international relations — both military and economic — is unacceptable and will get a strict response,” the Foreign Minister said.

Landsbergis thanked his Japanese counterpart for his solidarity with Europe and transatlantic partners in imposing sanctions on Russia and Belarus, providing humanitarian and other non-military assistance to Ukraine, hosting the refugees, as well as for Japan’s support for Lithuania in the face of China's economic pressure.

“We must mobilise to help Ukraine put an end to Russia's illegal military aggression. This country fights for our common values and for the global architecture that is dear to us. We, an alliance of the like-minded, also need to trade more with each other and collaborate more in the fields of technology and innovation to strengthen the resilience and to reduce the dependence of our supply chains from a single supplier. I am glad that we feel strong support from Japan and its willingness to work together", said Landsbergis.
 
The Foreign Minister also shared his impressions from yesterday’s trip to Lviv and the meeting with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, and informed his Japanese counterpart about the assistance that Ukraine needed the most right now.