EU foreign ministers have approved Lithuania’s proposal to broaden the bloc’s sanctions against Belarus, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry announced on Monday.
The expanded sanctions now target three new aspects – hybrid attacks, disruption of critical infrastructure, as well as disinformation and information manipulation, the ministry said. The changes will allow the EU to impose additional individual and sectoral sanctions on Belarus.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys welcomed the decision, saying it provides the EU with the tools to act effectively and decisively.
“This is EU unity and solidarity in action. I welcome our shared resolve to take the necessary decisions to protect the security of the EU as a whole,” he wrote on X.
Budrys’ remarks come as the United States considers lifting sanctions on Belarusian potash exports. He said he did not expect any US move to affect EU or Lithuanian sanctions and expressed hope that Minsk would honour a pledge to Washington to stop smugglers’ balloons from entering Lithuania.
Weather balloons, used by cigarette smugglers, have caused over a dozen closures of Vilnius Airport and one at Kaunas Airport in recent months.
Lithuania responded by temporarily restricting operations at border checkpoints with Belarus. Although the border has since reopened, Minsk continues to block Lithuania-registered trucks, seeking consultations at the foreign ministry level.
Lithuanian politicians have rejected these calls, arguing that the Belarusian regime is attempting to gain legitimacy and secure the lifting of sanctions.
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