Seimas speaker meets with US congressmen

“Dialogue in itself is no policy if Russia does not change its behavior in any way. All sanctions against Russia must be maintained until it completely ends its aggression against Ukraine. The unity of the international community is very important in this context,” he said during the meeting in Vilnius.

Both the United States and the European Union have imposed political and economic sanctions against Russia in the wake of its annexation of Crimea.

According to Dalia Vencevičienė, an adviser to the speaker, Pranckietis and the four congressmen — Doug Lamborn, Andy Barr, John Shimkus and Earl Carter — discussed regional security issues and the role of the international community on key issues of relations with Russia.

“Donald Trump’s remark yesterday that the US is very protective of this region shows the strategic importance of transatlantic ties and the solidarity of our nations,” he said.

The participants of the meeting also spoke about the US leadership in the region and how Lithuania could contribute to the development of democracy.

Lithuania has similar historical experience as Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova, but it has already become part of the Western world and can help spread the ideas of democracy in Eastern Europe, the Seimas said in a statement.

Pranckietis said that the US Congress’s support is also very important for Ukraine in defending its statehood and ensuring the development of democracy.

The speaker also stressed that the Klaipėda liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal contributes significantly to the Baltic countries’ energy security and welcomed the arrival of the first LNG shipment from the US in the Lithuania port on Aug. 21.

According to the speaker, the strategic partnership between Lithuania and the US and their growing business cooperation contribute to increasing the competitiveness and resilience of the Lithuanian and European economies.