Embargo on Russian oil, gas must be imposed immediately – Lithuanian formin

VILNIUS – An embargo on Russian oil and gas must be imposed immediately, the Lithuanian and Spanish foreign ministers said after their meeting in Vilnius on Thursday. 

"For several weeks now, there has been a discussion on the need for an embargo on Russian oil and gas," Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis told a joint news conference. "Both Lithuania and Spain share the position that this must be done immediately."

"Spain is fully committed to the defense of our values and the defense of the Eastern flank of NATO. That is why we participate actively in the Baltic air police operation with 8 fighters F-18, based in Siauliai, which I will visit today," said Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares. 

"We both agree that we must keep up the pressure," he told the news conference. "The economic sanctions imposed by the international community are already having an effect on Russia's economy."

Asked whether he believes that the EU will adopt sanctions on Russian oil in the near future, Albares said that Madrid intends to support them. 

"Of course, we'll be in favor, as we have been so far, of new packages of sanctions, because we have to do as much as possible to reduce the military effort of Russia in this unjust war in Ukraine," the Spanish minister said. 

"But we understand that not all the countries have the same exposures and the same link to Russia and we are also very eager to keep this unity within the European Union," he added.

According to Landsbergis, Thursday's meeting in Vilnius focused on two issues: assistance to Ukraine and the need to bolster the security of the region and NATO as a whole.

Madrid will host NATO's summit in June. 

"Spain will also hold the upcoming summit in Madrid, were we will revise the strategic concept," Albares told the news conference, adding that "it will be a crucial moment".