Кястутис Будрис. Скриншот видео
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said in an interview with LRT that some measures against Belarus will be expanded as part of the European Union’s 20th sanctions package against Russia, which is planned to be adopted by the next anniversary of the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Another important point: within the 20th package, some measures concerning Belarus will even be expanded. I hope the Foreign Affairs Council will approve it on the 23rd. So next week the issue of sanctions will be closed,” he said, without specifying which measures he was referring to.
According to Budrys, he also expects a decision next week on extending EU sanctions against Belarus.
The minister noted that after sanctions decisions regarding Belarus at the EU level, Lithuania will focus on what “the Belarusian side promised the United States, namely resolving the problem with the balloons.”
“We will see how this situation develops. The European Commission is taking new steps regarding our trucks that are still being held. We have a number of issues that we are working on,” he said.
Budrys was also asked about the relocation of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to Warsaw after her level of security was reduced in Lithuania.
“In Lithuania, Tsikhanouskaya is regarded as the leader of the opposition, and she has an office in Lithuania,” Budrys assured.
“It is their own decision how to expand and continue their activities. This is not Lithuania’s decision, just as the political agenda and what the opposition does by uniting individual structures in different countries is their own business.
Lithuania does not determine that they should do this or that now. What Lithuania can offer and what it does best is to create conditions for the activities of opposition representatives in Lithuania, ensuring security, space, political conditions, as well as providing financial support. And we will continue to do this in the future,” he added.
Budrys does not view what happened as a retreat by Lithuania on the Belarus issue. According to him, it is in the country’s interest to ensure “as much democracy as possible” in Belarus.
The minister believes that Tsikhanouskaya’s relocation is being given exaggerated importance.
“I think that here in Lithuania we greatly exaggerate the significance of this news, looking at it from different angles and assuming that we have thus lost a diplomatic shoulder, leg or something else. I do not agree with this drama,” he said, adding that Lithuania will continue to raise the issue of Belarus on the international stage.
Budrys was also asked about a possible warming of relations between Alyaksandr Lukashenka and the United States.
“We are discussing this directly with the United States. Lithuania is interested in knowing exactly what is happening and in informing the American side about the consequences of a warming of relations for us directly, about what the regime allows itself to do by intensifying hybrid attacks against us or increasing support for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. I also spoke about this during my last visit to Washington a few weeks ago with Special Envoy John Coale. We maintain constant contact, and several channels are open with the American side.
We inform them in detail about the prospects and consequences of this and, of course, coordinate actions. Because some of those released end up in Lithuania, but the United States of America has also taken on obligations to resolve some of the issues arising in connection with this, such as hybrid attacks on Lithuania,” he said.