European Union
EU foreign ministers wish to expand Russia blacklist
EU foreign ministers are keen to quickly add names to the Russia blacklist, according to draft document prepared for emergency meeting on 29 January, EUobserver reports. […]
Ukraine
Russian think tank that pushed for invasion of Ukraine wants Moscow to overthrow Belarus’ Lukashenko
Analysts at the Russian Institute for Strategic Research (RISI), a Moscow-based think tank that pushed hard for Russia to invade Ukraine, are now urging Moscow to overthrow Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko. […]
Uncategorized
Lithuanian foreign minister: Attack in Mariupol is terrorism and Russia should take responsibility
Russia should take responsibility for the Mariupol attack that claimed civilian lives, Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius says. […]
Uncategorized
Andreas Umland: Putin created alternative reality for Russians
Russian people are living in an alternative reality created for them by President Vladimir Putin, one completely disconnected from the rest of the world, says German political scientist Andreas Umland, senior research fellow, at Kyiv-based Institute for Euro-Atlantic Cooperation. […]
Foreign affairs
“Basketball diplomacy” puts Lithuanian diplomat under fire
With tensions flaring up again in eastern Ukraine after Russian-supported separatists attacked Mariupol, killing 30 civilians, policymakers and observers in Lithuania are particularly touchy when it comes to relations, or lack thereof, with Russia. Their ire can even fall on someone from their own team if he or she is as much as suspected of sympathies for Russia. […]
European Union
EU hints at additional sanctions against Russia
European Union leaders asked their foreign ministers on Tuesday to consider possible new sanctions on Russia in response to a rebel offensive in eastern Ukraine, Reuters reports. A final decision to impose them, however, is likely to be left to a summit next month. […]
Opinion
Opinion: Why is Russia raising stakes in east Ukraine?
Why have we seen an intensification of military action in eastern Ukraine? Government forces report that Russian troops are pushing towards not just Donetsk Airport, but essentially in all directions. This way, all previous predictions about how the military conflict will only smoulder during the winter but won’t advance have burst like soap bubbles. Fierce fighting has recommenced, civilians are dying as well as soldiers. […]
Foreign affairs
Uncategorized
Lithuania’s UN ambassador: Russia is responsible for Mariupol tragedy
Russia’s persistent support to separatists has led to the Mariupol tragedy when around 30 civilians were killed and over 90 were injured when the Ukrainian city came under a rocket attack, Lithuanian Ambassador to the United Nations Security Council Raimonda Murmokaitė said on Monday. […]
Foreign affairs
Minister Linkevičius discussed additional Russia sanctions in London
On 26 January, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius met with UK Minister for Europe David Lidington in London and discussed possible results of the forthcoming EU’s Foreign Affairs Council. […]
Society
Hundreds honour Mariupol attack victims in Vilnius
Several hundred people paid tribute to the victims of the recent attack on the Ukrainian city of Mariupol outside the Lithuanian parliament on Monday night. […]
Society
Event to commemorate victims of Mariupol attack to be held in Vilnius
A special event on Monday evening, 26 January, will pay tribute to victims of Saturday’s attack on Mariupol outside the Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas. […]
Uncategorized
UN Security Council meeting to discuss Ukraine at Lithuania’s request
The United Nations (UN) Security Council is holding a meeting on Monday at Lithuania’s request to discuss the situation in Ukraine. […]
Opinion
Opinion: New Russian propaganda – primitive but effective
The Russian Federation’s propaganda and other aggressive actions in the information space have recently been the subject of buoyant discussion within the context of events in eastern Ukraine. Crucial, however, to an in-depth and factual debate on this subject is to take a look at the historical context and roots of the new Russian propaganda. […]
Foreign affairs
Lithuanian foreign minister discusses Ukraine situation with top EU and NATO officials
Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius discussed the situation in Ukraine in a telephone conversation with high-ranking officials of the European Union (EU) and NATO on Sunday. […]
Uncategorized
Lithuanian foreign minister: EU should tighten sanctions on Russia after military raids in Ukraine
The military attacks in Ukraine that claim civilian lives should be deemed terrorist attacks, Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius says, adding that the European Union (EU) should tighten its sanctions on Russia following the latest attacks in Donetsk and Mariupol. […]
Foreign affairs
Lithuanian Foreign Ministry strongly condemns Russia’s intensifying aggression against Ukraine
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania strongly condemns increased Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. […]
Society
Euro adoption and crisis in Ukraine reduced Lithuanians’ optimism, according to poll
In December 2014 only every third Lithuanian claimed that the situation in the country has been improving. Compared with November 2014, the number of optimists decreased by 6 percent. According to sociologist and lecturer of Vilnius University, Professor Romas Lazutka, the outburst of pessimism at the end of the year was related to the change of national currency and the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine. […]
Foreign affairs
Defence
Lithuanian defence minister visits Ukrainian soldiers treated in Druskininkai
Lithuania’s Defense Minister Juozas Olekas on Friday met with Ukrainian soldiers undergoing treatment in the southern resort of Druskininkai, the ministry said. […]