As the EU mulls a new package of sanctions for Belarus, Lithuania hopes the latest restrictions will be similar to those imposed on Russia.
"We have the European Commission's proposal, and we are in agreement that the sanctions should cover dual-use goods, high technology and aviation," Lithuanian Foreign Vice Minister Jovita Neliupšienė, now in Brussels, told LRT RADIO on Thursday.
"We expect them to be the same or very close to what we have in those areas for Russia," she added.
According to her, the basis for additional sanctions on Minsk is the continued involvement of Belarus in Russia’s war against Ukraine, the deteriorating human rights situation in the country and its assistance to the Kremlin to circumvent the existing sanctions.
"If we don't close this hole, we probably won't be able to stop the flow of that river," Neliupšienė said.
Diplomats say the new sanctions on Belarus should be a stepping stone towards a broader agreement on a larger sanction package.
"We have always stood and will continue to stand for the fact that sanctions for Belarus should mirror those for Russia," Neliupšienė said.
The latest sanctions are expected to be adopted next week.
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