Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys insisted Monday that US actions in Venezuela, including military strikes in Caracas and the abduction of President Nicolas Maduro, cannot be compared to Russia’s crimes against Ukraine. His German counterpart Johann Wadephul said this could lead to “a positive change” in the South American country.
Budrys said Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 was an act of aggression against a sovereign state whose legitimately elected government posed no threat to its neighbours.
“For that reason alone, there is nothing here that could be compared,” Budrys told reporters at a joint news conference in Vilnius with German Foreign Minister Wadephul.
The Lithuanian minister said Russia has committed “massive violations of international law” in Ukraine, beginning with the crime of aggression and extending to breaches of international humanitarian law and violations of the rights of civilians and children.
Budrys said Lithuania supports a statement issued Sunday by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stressing that international law and the United Nations Charter must be respected under all circumstances, but falling short of condemning US actions.
Like the rest of the EU, Lithuania has refused to recognise Maduro’s government, which Budrys described as repressive. He said Vilnius hopes any further US actions in Venezuela will be grounded in international law, without elaborating on what it means.
“We hope the process will be guided by international law and that a democratic transition will take place as peacefully and safely as possible,” Budrys said. “A change of the repressive regime is a major opportunity for Venezuela to return to stability and a dignified life.”
Wadephul said after meeting with Budrys that the situation in Venezuela requires a comprehensive assessment that includes “aspects of international law”.
“Maduro’s actions were criminal and ran counter to the will of the Venezuelan people,” Wadephul said, adding that Maduro “is not a legitimately elected president”.
He said the fact that about one-fifth of Venezuela’s population has left the country shows a lack of public support for the government.
“We must ensure that, in line with international law, a path forward is now found that leads to democracy and self-determination for the Venezuelan people,” Wadephul said.
The German foreign minister added that the crisis in Venezuela must be viewed in a broader geopolitical context, citing Chinese and Russian involvement in the country.
“If assessed under international law, the methods used there, especially by Russia, would certainly raise critical questions,” Wadephul said. “This amounted to the stabilisation of an illegitimate regime.”
“If the current course of events leads to elections and to the Venezuelan people’s self-determination, that would be a positive change,” he said, adding that international law remains central to any assessment.
“We do not shy away from the fact that the issue of international law is always relevant here,” he said.
The United States carried out airstrikes against several targets in Venezuela early Saturday. US President Donald Trump later said Maduro and his wife had been flown out of the country and would face trial in New York.
Trump said Washington would “run” Venezuela during a transitional period, assigning the task to senior US officials. Maduro’s vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, was named interim president.
The Trump administration has said it is willing to work with remaining members of Maduro’s government if US objectives are met, including opening access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves. Shortly after the strikes, Trump also issued a warning to Colombia’s president.
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