Russia shows skill in derailing peace efforts - Lithuanian foreign minister

VILNIUS - After Russian President Vladimir Putin decided not to take part in talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Turkey, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said on Thursday that the Kremlin is once again showing its skill in derailing proposals and disrupting planned peace efforts.

"What we've seen from the Russian side - and from Putin personally - is a high level of mastery in destroying proposals, undermining the proposed process, deceiving everyone and dragging out time in a way that benefits him," said Lithuania's top diplomat, who is currently visiting Turkey.

According to Budrys, Putin's actions only confirm that he currently has no interest in declaring a ceasefire or negotiating for peace.

"The very fact that he ignored President Zelensky's invitation and failed to respond to the call from the international community, the US, Europe and Ukraine itself to declare a ceasefire for at least 30 days shows that his intentions remain unchanged," the minister said.

"That's why this is yet another reminder that we need to ramp up our work on sanctions," he added.

The European Union has imposed 17 sanctions packages on Russia since February 24, 2022, when Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The measures target both specific individuals and sectors of the Kremlin's economy as well as companies.

According to Budrys, the EU will soon start working on an 18th package of sanctions

Meanwhile, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday registered draft legislation that would allow the country to impose national sanctions on Russia and Belarus if efforts to extend EU sanctions fail.