Europe should either follow up on its threats to seriously sanction Russia or admit its impotence, says Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys.
“It seems to me that the time has come to talk about Europe’s patience, that it has certain limits, that the bottom is already visible. Let’s stand on that bottom, let’s say ‘enough’ and let’s take the initiative into our own hands,” the minister told reporters on Tuesday in Brussels where he attends a meeting of EU foreign ministers.
“All the more so because ten days ago the European quartet [...] told [Russian President Vladimir] Putin to accept an unconditional ceasefire or get sanctions,” he said after the Monday phone call between US President Donald Trump and the Russian leader.
“It’s either we are all here without any instruments and without any mandate, and let’s declare our impotence and close that meeting, or let’s finally move forward. Because if not now, I don’t know what else would have to happen. We are talking about a cold shower, this is not a cold shower, we are in freezing water and we are about to drown.”
If the EU does not deliver on its promise to impose further sanctions, no one will believe in further threats from European countries and will not comply with the demands made.
“We threatened to do it, so let’s do it. Because I cannot see how anyone can take us seriously next time,” Budrys said. “They are making fun of us already.”
Lithuania’s top diplomat is also annoyed by the Council’s stalling initiatives.
“There are 16 initiatives that I have talked about during the last six Councils, so we have progress in one of them, and it’s not even related to the EU, not related to the Special Tribunal,” the minister said.
According to Budrys, the European Peace Facility has been forgotten, which was supposed to provide 6.6 billion euros in support to Ukraine, but was blocked by Hungary: “Everybody has forgotten about it and nobody even mentions it anymore, it no longer exists.”
Budrys reiterated that the EU, which adopted its 17th sanctionn package on Tuesday, should already be working on a new and much tighter set of measures.
“Let’s make the 18th [sanctions package] serious, mature and one that could change the situation. Otherwise, we are not going at the pace we set, not on the path we set, we are going after, we are choosing the consequences and we are hearing reports that this is not our war, but someone else’s war,” the minister said.
Budrys says the new sanction package should be drawn up without looking at partners.
“I think we need to do what we need to do and then talk to the Americans about how we can synchronise these things [sanctions],” Lithuania’s top diplomats said. “The US remains the key force that is consolidating Europe on sanctions. It is absolutely pathetic where we are.”
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