The European Union should concentrate on increasing pressure on the Kremlin rather than debating who should represent the bloc in possible negotiations with Russia, Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said on Thursday.
Speaking ahead of an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Cyprus, Budrys said the priority should be stronger sanctions and greater support for Ukraine.
“Now is not the time to be discussing who will take part in the negotiations,” he told reporters.
“We are not talking about names, we are not talking about seats at the table – but we do need to discuss what we are doing to apply additional pressure on Russia, and equally to provide more support to Ukraine so that it can withstand these attacks and move towards victory.”
Budrys said EU member states should now focus on preparing the bloc’s 21st sanctions package against Russia. Lithuania wants the measures to include sanctions on the Russian state nuclear company Rosatom and the oil company Lukoil.
