Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have each summoned Russian diplomatic representatives, accusing Moscow of spreading false claims about the Baltic states as it steps up missile and drone attacks on Ukraine.
Claims that the Baltic countries were preparing mass deportations of Russian speakers and had allowed Ukraine to use their airspace to attack Russia are part of the Kremlin’s playbook, the countries said.
The governments of Estonia and Lithuania told Euronews that the deportation accusations made by Russian Foreign Ministry official Grigori Lukyantsev are used by Moscow to portray Russia as the victim while diverting attention from its own conduct in Ukraine.
"Russia is desperately seeking to divert attention from its aggression against Ukraine, as well as to portray itself as a victim and thereby absolve itself of responsibility for crimes committed," Lithuania's Foreign Ministry told Euronews.
In the meantime, Estonia accused Moscow of trying to distract from "Russia's own serious violations of international law, including the forcible transfer and deportation of Ukrainian children,” Estonia’s foreign ministry spokesperson Susan Lilleväli told Euronews.
