Budrys hopes EU will approve 21st Russia sanctions package by month-end

VILNIUS - Lithuania's foreign minister-designate Kestutis Budrys said on Monday he hoped European Union member states would approve the bloc's 21st package of sanctions against Russia by the end of the month.

According to Budrys, failure to reach an agreement would show that the European Union is unable to coordinate tougher measures against the Kremlin.

"The trend that emerged with the 20th package and continues with the 21st is that countries are increasingly prioritising their economic interests, thereby pushing aside stronger decisions or even seeking to revise previous ones," Budrys said ahead of the European Union Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on Monday.

The minister-designate said disagreements over stricter restrictions on the transport of liquefied natural gas were currently the main obstacle to reaching a deal.

"We want that activity to be banned. As is known, there are not many ships in the world capable of transporting liquefied gas, and many of them are in Europe. So yes, these blocks of issues are the main hindrances," Budrys said.

Budrys also stressed that the European Union must prepare further support for Ukraine to help the country withstand the coming winter.

"Russia is already attacking energy infrastructure. We know this will be one of the main targets this winter. Russia will certainly try to use the cold to break Ukraine's will to resist," the minister-designate said.

Budrys said Lithuania was among the leading countries in terms of energy sector assistance and urged other nations to increase their support.