Even without an actual incursion of the Russian armed forces, Ukraine is already under attack, says Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, therefore the European Union should start preparing sanctions.
“Ukraine has already been attacked, therefore, we should now start speaking about sanctions, without waiting for a military attack,” the minister told reporters ahead of an EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels.
In his words, having massed thousands of troops near Ukraine's borders, Moscow is putting both economic and security pressure on Kyiv. Europe doesn't need to wait for an actual attack by Russian troops, Landsbergis says, adding that the EU's response can already be agreed on and applied.
“Putin is not drawing any red lines on his attack, therefore, we should not be drawing any red lines on our sanctions,” Landsbergis said, asked about possible sanctions for the energy sector. “Our government has given a mandate that everything should remain on the table.”
There's also a place for diplomacy, the minister said, but “the aggressor has to show intention to withdraw”.
The US says that Moscow has up to 150,000 troops and military equipment near Ukraine's borders.
‘Occupation’ of Belarus
Commenting on Belarus, Landsbergis said the situation in the country was “changing dramatically”.
“Belarus allows using its territory for Russia's military action, and we should also speak about sanctions for the Belarusian regime,” Lithuania's top diplomat said.
On Sunday, Belarusian Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin said the joint Belarusian-Russian army drills, which had been scheduled to end on February 20, would continue.
In response, Landsbergis said it was changing not only Ukraine's security situation, but also that of the Baltic states and Poland.
“We have to admit that what we're seeing is a very slow occupation of the Belarusian territory and state,” the Lithuanian minister said.
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