Vaccination becomes geopolitical challenge, we can't forget Eastern partners – formin

VILNIUS – Vaccination against the coronavirus is becoming a geopolitical challenge and we cannot forget Eastern Partnership countries in this situation, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis says.

"I believe the vaccination program is becoming a geopolitical challenge. It’s no coincidence that with another 12 counterparts we have turned to the European Commission, suggesting definitely not forgetting to include our Eastern partners of Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia into the vaccination program, as well as Belarus and how we could help it by bypassing the official Minsk," Landsbergis said in an interview with the Ziniu Radijas news radio on Wednesday morning.

The minister also commented on reports that the Russian vaccine is being used to vaccinate residents of Eastern Ukraine.

The foreign minister also expressed his regret that Europe itself is facing major vaccination-related difficulties, stressing that when "contacts are resolved and Europe get back on its feet and our people are vaccinated in the numbers we want, then definitely we should focus on and help countries that need that help".

In January, Lithuania and another 12 EU member states called on Brussels to help Eastern neighbors to get coronavirus vaccines.