As Ukraine faces aggression from Russia, the international community is able to prevent it from escalating further, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has stated during a visit to Kyiv earlier this week.
According to the office of the Lithuanian President, he arrived in Ukraine together with Polish President Andrzej Duda following bilateral consultations in Poland. The meeting of the Presidents of Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine took place in the format of the Lublin Triangle in Kyiv on Wednesday, February 23. It focused on the response to Russia’s decision to recognize the «republics» of Donetsk and Luhansk, measures to de-escalate the security situation and support for Ukraine.
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During the meeting, the President of Lithuania stressed that Lithuania strongly condemned Russia’s decision to recognize the breakaway «republics» of Donetsk and Luhansk on the territory of Ukraine as independent states. According to Gitanas Nausėda, this is a gross violation of international law, Ukraine’s territorial integrity and the Minsk agreements.
«Lithuania will not recognize any attempts to undermine the territorial integrity of Ukraine. As we will never recognize the illegal annexation of Crimea,» the Lithuania President said.
At the meeting, Gitanas Nausėda emphasized that Ukraine would not be left alone in the face of Russian aggression and would receive Lithuania’s and Europe’s full support.
«I welcome a united European Union response by adopting sanctions not only against Russia but also against the so-called breakaway «republics». Now EU sanctions are being aligned with the sanctions of the U.S., the UK and Canada for a strong coordinated response. Only together can we prevent further aggression,» the President said, as quoted by his office.