Lithuania urges EU to hit Russia with tougher sanctions
Photo: Kęstutis Budrys, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania (Getty Images)
The European Union must strengthen sanctions against Moscow to break the vicious cycle created by Russia’s repeated refusal to agree to a ceasefire, stated Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys, n-tv reports.
Budrys argued that the EU should introduce tougher measures in its upcoming 18th sanctions package because the Kremlin leader continues to ignore calls for a 30-day ceasefire on the frontline.
"Deceit, disruption, distraction, and delay. The strategy is to evade sanctions… We, as Europeans, must break this cycle, and the tool is new sanctions," Budrys said.
He urged the EU to target:
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Russian energy exports, including LNG, oil, and nuclear fuel
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Russian financial institutions
Sanctions against Russia
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, the West has imposed sweeping sanctions on Moscow. These measures span a wide range of sectors, from finance and energy to defense and technology.
The goal of the restrictions is to weaken Russia’s economic potential, reduce its ability to fund the war, and exert political pressure. The sanctions have targeted both state institutions and individual persons, companies, and banks.
Recently, the United Kingdom introduced a new round of large-scale sanctions against Russia aimed at increasing pressure on its military, energy, and financial sectors.
On the same day, the European Union adopted its 17th package of sanctions against Russia.
