Russian forces are not resting, West must send more weapons to Ukraine – Lithuanian formin

  • 2022-07-18
  • BNS/TBT Staff

VILNIUS – Having attacked Ukraine, the Kremlin's forces are not resting, therefore, the West must send more weapons to the Ukrainians, Lithuania's Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday.

"Since the Brussels is leaving for vacations, it's a good opportunity to be reminded that Russian troops have no plans to take free days from further attacking Ukraine," the told reporters, adding that this is why Western countries, especially those with strong military industries, need to send more weapons to the Ukrainian forces as this is the only way to stop the Russian offensive.

"If anything that needs to be continued, it is weapons deliveries," Landsbergis said.

The minister also stressed that the EU should also provide more financial support to Kyiv.

EU foreign ministers are gathering in Brussels on Monday to discuss Ukraine's post-war rebuilding and reforms related to its European prospects. Among other things, ministers are also expected to start negotiations on a new package of sanctions for Russia.

At the end of last week, the European Commission announced that the EU would use the new sanctions package to restrict Russian gold exports and to "close all loopholes" to circumvent the measures in the previous packages.

So far, the EU has adopted six sanction packages for the Kremlin in response to its invasion of Ukraine on February 24. Adopted in June, the latest package imposed a ban on imports of the majority of Russian oil.