Lithuanian fimin calls for suspension of Russia's World Bank membership

VILNIUS - Lithuanian Finance Minister Gintare Skaiste has called for the suspension of Russia's membership in the World Bank as a country that violates fundamental value-based principles, and also called against giving in to Russia's  blackmail over the looming global food crisis.

Russia is trying to change the narrative and make the international community question the usefulness of the existing sanctions, the minister said.

"In the face of the unprecedented economic consequences of Russia's war in Ukraine, we cannot allow the aggressor to perpetuate the narrative that the Western sanctions are leading to a looming food crisis. This is yet another attempt by Russia to blackmail the world and turn food supply into a convenient tool at the expense of other countries," the finance minister said at a meeting in Copenhagen of the Nordic-Baltic governors with WB President David Malpass

The war has highlighted some of the differences between WB members and is complicating strategic decisions on aid to Ukraine, Skaiste said, stressing the need for united coordination and highlighting the real causes of the food crisis, energy prices, inflation, namely, Russia's imperialist ambition and military aggression.

The WB should continue to mobilize resources, as it has done since the outbreak of the war, and use all possible instruments to help Ukraine and prepare for its reconstruction, the Lithuanian finance minister said.