Budrys: Frozen Russian assets should defend and heat Ukrainian cities as winter nears
Translated from Lithuanian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.
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- Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys urged EU countries to use frozen Russian assets for Ukraine’s air defense, long-range strike capabilities, reconstruction and energy resilience before winter.
- Budrys backed sanctions on 1,600 people and entities linked to Russia’s military-industrial complex and called for an ambitious 22nd sanctions package targeting companies including Rosatom, Lukoil and Rosneft.
- EU and partner foreign ministers also discussed alleged Russian hybrid attacks, the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s actions and priorities for the United Nations General Assembly.
With winter approaching, Lithuania’s foreign minister says Ukraine needs more than promises of support. Kęstutis Budrys called for frozen Russian assets to help defend Ukrainian cities, restore damaged infrastructure and strengthen the country’s energy resilience.
“Ukraine urgently needs additional air defense capabilities and long-range strike capabilities,” Budrys said in a statement from Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry. He urged every EU member state to meet its financial and military commitments and unblock funds available through the European Peace Facility.
Ukraine urgently needs additional air defense capabilities and long-range strike capabilities. Therefore, all EU countries must implement their commitments to financial and military support and unblock the funds provided through the European Peace Facility.
Budrys supported an initiative to sanction 1,600 individuals and legal entities linked to Russia’s military-industrial complex, but said those measures alone would not be enough. Lithuania, he said, was consistently calling for immediate work on an ambitious 22nd sanctions package. It should include Russian companies such as Rosatom, Lukoil and Rosneft, along with further limits on Russian oil exports.
We must act decisively and united, using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine’s defense and reconstruction.
The Lithuanian minister also argued that Russia was intensifying hybrid attacks and sabotage against EU countries as President Vladimir Putin sought to display purported military and political gains ahead of what Lithuania described as upcoming elections in Russia. That, he said, reinforced the need to maintain and increase pressure on Moscow.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha briefed ministers on Ukraine’s most urgent needs and the situation at the front. Foreign ministers from Iceland, the United Kingdom, Canada, Norway and Switzerland stressed their continued support for Ukraine. The meeting also covered the Middle East, the continuing Strait of Hormuz crisis and Iran’s actions. “We cannot allow Iran to hold global shipping hostage,” Budrys said, calling freedom of navigation a basic principle of international law and Iranian threats against EU members irresponsible and unacceptable.
We cannot allow Iran to hold global shipping hostage. Freedom of navigation remains one of the essential principles of international law, which is why we support all initiatives aimed at unblocking the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s threats against EU member states are completely irresponsible and unacceptable.
About this summary
Originally published by Delfi in Lithuanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.
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