Recognizing Crimea as Russian would be a time bomb – Lithuanian president
Photo: Gitanas Nausėda, President of Lithuania (Getty Images)
A possible legal recognition of Russia’s control over Crimea would be a time bomb. This is a red line, states Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, according to LRT.
He emphasized that Europe’s position on Crimea is absolutely clear.
"If we do what is being proposed (by Washington – ed.) and recognize Crimea de jure as Russian, it would be a time bomb that keeps exploding over and over again. That’s where the red lines lie, and they must not be crossed," Nausėda said.
The president added that first and foremost, such proposals should be discussed with Ukraine itself, the country that was attacked.
"Because it is the country that has suffered the most brutal losses, where many people, civilians, have been affected. Its infrastructure is destroyed, its economy devastated. So don’t they have the right to say something very important about what they think of these proposals?" Nausėda noted.
He added that the position of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is the same, and Lithuania supports it.
"I understand him (Zelenskyy – ed.) perfectly. I understand that only such a stance will make sense to the Ukrainian people. That’s what he said – I heard it from President Zelenskyy, and I completely understand him," the Lithuanian head of state said.
US proposal
Last week, the US presented its peace plan to Ukrainian, British, French, and German officials.
According to Reuters, the proposal suggested that the US would legally recognize Crimea as Russian. The US also wants Ukraine to abandon its intention to become a NATO member.
At the same time, under such a plan, Ukraine would regain control over the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and the Kakhovka Dam.
