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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania strongly condemns Russia’s decision to recognize two areas in Ukraine’s Luhansk and Donetsk regions, which are held by Russian-backed separatists, as independent.

This decision constitutes a gross violation of the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and international law, the Helsinki Final Act, and the Charter of Paris. After annexing Ukraine’s Crimea in 2014, Russia continues to undermine the country's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, as well as its own Budapest Memorandum commitments to Ukraine. By occupying the territories of a sovereign state, Russia is also retreating from the implementation of the Minsk Agreements, which it has signed and which stipulate the process of restoring control over the territories to the Ukrainian Government.

8 years of Russian aggression against Ukraine, including this last decision, as well as Russia's disrespect of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, pose a threat not only to the European security architecture, but also to global peace and security.

Underlining the UN General Assembly resolution 68/262 on the territorial integrity of Ukraine, we call upon the Russian Federation to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Russia must immediately cease its aggression in Ukraine, return to diplomacy, continue making political efforts to settle the conflict, and withdraw its troops from the occupied territories and from the border with Ukraine.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs notes that the recent escalation proves the need to reinforce deterrence along NATO’s eastern flank.

Russia’s aggression against Ukraine must receive a strong response from the international community, including coordinated restrictive measures by the European Union, the U.S. and other like-minded partners targeting specific economic sectors of the Russian Federation, as well as responsible persons and entities. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania strongly supports the free choice of the Ukrainian people to build their country based on the values of Western democracy and Ukraine‘s European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations. Lithuania will continue to make every effort to support Ukraine’s statehood and independence, and, together with its allies and partners, will provide all necessary assistance.