Lithuania to send deputy minister to Ukraine after Crimea remarks scandal
Photo: Flag of Lithuania (Getty Images)
Lithuania’s Health Minister Marija Jakubauskienė said her newly appointed deputy, Arnomedas Galdikas, will be sent to work in Ukraine following a scandal sparked by his response to a question about who Crimea belongs to, according to LRT.
The controversy erupted after an interview in which Galdikas failed to clearly answer who the peninsula belongs to. In Lithuania, the question is often seen as a litmus test of one’s stance on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
During the interview, the official said: "I don’t know who Crimea belongs to, what is the purpose of this question?" Only after repeated prompting did he respond: "Alright then, to Ukraine."
His comments triggered a strong public backlash. Following the incident, Jakubauskienė told reporters that her deputy would be sent to Ukraine.
“We will send our vice-minister to work in Ukraine. I already told him yesterday that he will have to go," she said.
According to the minister, the decision was made after discussions with Lithuania’s Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė.
Jakubauskienė did not specify when Galdikas would depart for Ukraine or what his exact duties would be.
Lithuania, like other Baltic states, has consistently supported Ukraine, particularly due to concerns that Russian aggression could spread further in the region. According to Reuters, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are already preparing detailed emergency action plans, including a potential Russian invasion or escalation along their borders.
At the same time, analysts from ISW believe Russia has already entered the first phase of preparing for a potential conflict with NATO and could resort to provocations, including false-flag operations.
Against this backdrop, Germany recently conducted exercises simulating a Russian invasion of Lithuania. Their results proved grim — Moscow would be able to achieve its objectives within days.
