Linas Jegelevičius for the BNN
Having downgraded this week its diplomatic relations with Russia and expelled Moscow’s ambassador, Lithuania is turning just another page on Russia and the other page in its recent diplomatic record on lower ties. But in November, it was China, the other geopolitical adversary, that downgraded its ties with Vilnius, thus expressing its fury with the Baltic state which allowed Taiwan to open a de facto embassy there.
«The two cases including a downgrade of representation are just incomparable. It seems that, with the war in Ukraine ongoing, China is forgetting the slight and is focusing on the situation in Ukraine and what comes next,» Vytautas Dumbliauskas, a Lithuanian political analyst, told BNN.
The Lithuania government has also decided to close the Russian Consulate in the port city of Klaipėda.
«Lithuania is lowering the level of diplomatic representation with Russia, this way expressing its full solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, who are suffering from Russia’s unprecedented aggression,» Lithuanian Foreign minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said, explaining the move.
«Lithuania condemns in the strongest possible terms the atrocities committed by the Russian armed forces in various occupied Ukrainian cities, including the horrific massacres in Bucha and other Ukrainian cities, which will undoubtedly be added to the list of atrocities committed on European territory,» the minister was quoted as saying by Lithuania media.
The Lithuanian ambassador in Moscow has been recalled and will «return to Lithuania in the near future,» says the Ministry’s the statement.
Clearly, by downgrading relations with Russia, Vilnius is breaking the ranks of the fellow EU member states that, for now, seemingly play a waiting game, expecting a nod or ‘no’ from Brussels.
«Obviously, the European Commission is lacking determination to sever relations with Russia. The decision on the latest sanctions package against Russia shows just that – the bloc fears to remain without Russian gas and oil. So, Lithuania is a sort of a maverick, setting standards for all,» Dumbliauskas accentuated.
The European Commission has proposed earlier this week a raft of new measures that would include a ban on Russian coal imports, though not other energy sources.
«I am disappointed that the proposals do not include oil. When we are talking about the finances that go into Russia’s budget from the sale of coal to Europe, coal is not much, and you could add candles and firewood if you wanted to make it stronger. But if we are not talking about something as fundamental as oil, it is not a big blow,» Landsbergis said in an interview with CNN on April 5.
It would be easier for European countries to give up Russian oil than gas, just as Lithuania has recently done, he said.
As reported by BNN, the Baltic states have decided to rid of Russian gas and Lithuania was the first to do it.
Reportedly, since Russian President Vladimir Putin began his invasion of Ukraine, Europe has paid Russia around 20 billion euros for energy imports. Notably, Gazprom-dependent Germany is bristling most against the ban on Russian gas.
«There is no room to play, court or pander Russia. Let’s be honest: in the worst-case scenario, we may see Russia drop nuclear warheads on Vilnius or Warsaw,» Dumbliauskas said. «Economically, Russia has become much less important than it had been in the past.»
Yet, Russia is remaining an important trade partner. In fact, until very recently, it has been on top of Lithuania’s export list, with Russia-bound goods worth some 4.09 billion euro just a couple of years ago. Latvia was the second, followed by Germany, Poland, and the Netherlands.
«Unfortunately, the West seems weak in tackling Russia and Putin. The leaders of the main European capitals would rather sit on the fence off the TV screens than fight Russia. And – I am sorry to sound discriminatorily – the US’s Biden is too old to be on top of things with the international agenda,» Dumbliauskas said. «The Western world needs a new Margaret Thatcher or Ronald Reagan.»
Speaking to BNN, Naglis Puteikis, a former MP, said that, by downgrading relations with Russia, Lithuania is merely «correcting its mistake» it had made in the beginning of war.
«Unlike Estonia, which ramped up its Embassy in Kyiv, I mean in terms of personnel, a sign of valour and solidarity with Ukraine, Lithuania hastened to reduce the staff number and move its ambassador to other location and then to Poland. A big shame on us. So the downgrading ties with Russia seems like a little compensation for Ukrainians,» Puteikis said.
He says Russia may be itched to attack others if it succeeds in Ukraine.
Read also: Estonia seeking to cut imports of Russian gas in months
Commenting on the decision to close the Russian Consulate in the city of Klaipėda, where Puteikis is from, the ex-lawmaker said that he fully supports the decision.
«Unfortunately, we failed to integrate local Russians,» he said.
Citing Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko, Russia’s state-controlled TASS news agency has called a decision of Latvia and Lithuania to downgrade diplomatic relations with Russia «short-sighted and narrowing» the possibilities of political dialogue.
So far, around 2,400 war refugees from Ukraine have found jobs in Lithuania. Overall, nearly 40,400 people who have fled Ukraine since the start of Russia’s invasion have been registered in the country.
According to the Employment Service, a total of 7,066 Ukrainians are currently registered as job seekers.
The Russia-Ukraine war, which started on February 24, has drawn international outrage, with Western countries and their allies implementing tough financial sanctions on Moscow. At least 1,430 civilians have been killed in Ukraine and 2,097 injured, according to UN estimates, with the true figure feared to be much higher.
The Russian regime is «acting like the Nazis» by denying war crimes in Ukraine, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė said this week, reacting to revelations about alleged civilian killings in the Ukrainian town of Bucha near Kyiv.
More than 4.21 million Ukrainians have also fled to neighbouring countries, with millions more internally displaced, according to the UN refugee agency.
BNN ANALYSES | Vilnius again ahead of Brussels – slaps Moscow with ties’ downgrade, expels Russian Ambassador
