Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys on Wednesday urged the United States to take a harder line on Russia as Washington advances a plan aimed at ending Moscow’s war against Ukraine.
Speaking to LRT RADIO, Budrys said the latest diplomatic push underscores the need for firm consequences if Russia fails to meet agreed-upon deadlines.
“Perhaps this has once again underscored what kind of foreign actor, what kind of player in international relations we are dealing with. I am talking about Russia,” he said. “We can set deadlines, but it is very important to stick to them and to spell out what happens if they are not met.”
“There must be a sanction, a penalty, some sort of consequence if the deadline is ignored,” Budrys said. “There is no need to pressure Ukraine here; Russia is the one that must be pressured.”
Budrys said he hopes the US administration will harden its stance toward Moscow as the plan moves forward. He praised Ukraine’s negotiating team as “strong and capable”, adding that Kyiv has shown significant flexibility. “I would very much like to see that from Russia’s side,” he said.
US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Washington was “very close” to brokering a deal between Ukraine and Russia to end what he described as their nearly four-year war.
A US official told ABC News earlier that the Ukrainian delegation had agreed with Washington on the terms of a potential peace deal.
An initial version of the 28-point US proposal, publicly backed by Trump, drew sharp criticism from Ukrainians and European officials for terms viewed as favourable to Moscow, including provisions that would reduce Ukraine’s armed forces and cede parts of its territory. An updated plan intended to “uphold Ukraine’s sovereignty” was drafted during emergency talks over the weekend.
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
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