Lithuania urges EU to cut Russian gas imports as bloc discusses new sanctions

VILNIUS – Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis has urged EU member states to cut Russian gas imports, as the bloc is discussing a new round of sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. 

"I will probably not tire of repeating that we must go further with sanctions and that we must introduce new restrictions," he told a press conference on Monday. "In my opinion, the best and most effective step would be to cut oil trade with Russia." 

The measure is "technically doable" and would be "the biggest loss for the Russian budget", according to the minister.

"In fact, the money Russia receives is used to support the ruble, blocking the effectiveness of other sanctions," he said. 

The EU said on Monday it was discussing a new round of sanctions on Russia following the discovery of mass graves and hundreds of brutally murdered civilians in Bucha after Ukrainian forces retook the town northwest of Kyiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of genocide.

A new sanctions package on Russia is expected to be drafted this week. EU foreign ministers will then be able to discuss it, either on the sidelines of a NATO meeting this week, or at their regular meeting early next week.