Lithuania to propose new sanctions against Russia
During a visit to Poland, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė said that Vilnius intends to propose additional sanctions against Russia if Moscow continues its aggressive policy towards Ukraine, BNS reports.
“If things continue to develop poorly, and Russia doesn’t start talking, but continues its aggressive policy throughout Ukraine and at the Kerch Strait, then, without a doubt, we will propose additional sanctions,” the Lithuanian leader told reporters in Lublin.
She added that the EU will soon announce which Russians have been blacklisted in connection with the Kerch Strait incident, in which Russia captured three Ukrainian boats and their entire crews. “I already know who they are, but it’s too early to comment,” she noted.
When asked whether enough people were being blacklisted, Grybauskaitė responded that the goal of the sanctions is not quantity.
“The goal of sanctions is to say that the EU sees what is going on and does not condone it,” she remarked.
During a press conference in Warsaw, the Lithuanian president also referred to the US military base which Poland has asked to have stationed in its territory. “The presence of American soldiers in the region is in the interests of both of our countries. For Lithuania it is very important that this [military base] be closer to the eastern part, to the Republic of Lithuania,” she said.
Polish President Andrzej Duda said that Lithuania and Poland will send a mechanized brigade to NATO’s multinational North East Division, which is stationed in Elbląg, Poland.
Lithuania and Poland plan to establish a joint Council of Defense Ministers which will meet at least once a year to oversee all military matters. Both countries’ armed forces will cooperate on matters pertaining to the defense of the Suwałki Corridor, which lies on the Polish-Lithuanian border.