Lithuanian, EU formins to discuss Russian military buildup near Ukraine

VILNIUS – Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis is leaving for Brussels on Monday to attend an EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting to discuss Russia's military buildup near Ukraine.

"As the situation near Ukraine's border is heating up and Russia refuses to return to the diplomatic solution of the conflict, it is important to agree on specific decisive action and measures in case of further escalation of the conflict," Landsbergis said before leaving for the meeting.

Russia has massed around 100,000 troops near its border with Ukraine in recent weeks, and these maneuvers have caused major concern for Western countries that Moscow might evade the neighboring country.

The Alliance has warned Moscow it could face large-scale strategic and economic consequences in case of invasion.

Russia rejects such concerns and says its moves are aimed at preventing Ukraine from joining the US-led NATO military alliance, despite the fact that Ukraine is still far from joining.

EU foreign ministers will also discuss the situation in Belarus and the regime's increasing pressure on civil society and the deteriorating human rights situation in the country.