Lithuania's Landsbergis calls for "clear message" on sanctions for Russia helpers

VILNIUS – Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis has called for a "clear message" to be sent to all countries considering helping Russia to bypass the existing Western sanctions that they might find themselves punished.

"There has to be a very clear message to every country, a third country, that would help Russia to circumvent sanctions, that the same sanctions could be applied to this country as well. We have to be very serious about that, this is also about our credibility," Landsbergis told reporters in Brussels on Monday, asked about possible ways to ensure that the existing sanctions for Russia are not bypassed, for example, via Turkey or Serbia.

As the war in Ukraine continues, Europe cannot create the impression being tired.

As many Western countries closed their airspace for Russian planes after Russian invaded Ukraine, some countries, including Serbia and Turkey, a NATO member, with better ties with Russia have not joined in.