Russia's Ukraine attacks are a 'futile adventure' leading to self-destruction, says Lithuanian minister
Translated from Lithuanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Lithuania's Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius criticized Russia's ongoing attacks on Ukraine, calling them a futile adventure.
- He highlighted the significant number of drones, bombs, and missiles Russia has deployed, noting that Ukrainian resilience comes at a high cost due to perceived Western inaction.
- Linkevičius argued that Russia's current tactics rely on terrorism and nuclear blackmail rather than conventional military strength, and that its prolonged aggression is ultimately self-destructive.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius has strongly condemned Russia's sustained military actions in Ukraine, characterizing the campaign as a "futile adventure" with devastating consequences.
Ukraine continues to pay the price for our clumsiness, inconsistency, and inadequacy. The proof is the stalling 21st EU sanctions package. At this pace, it seems we will soon need a 22nd, and later a 122nd package.
Linkevičius pointed to the sheer scale of Russia's recent assaults, citing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's report of approximately 40 missiles and 120 drones targeting Kyiv in a single night, with a total of 1,450 drones, 1,640 guided bombs, and around 100 missiles deployed over the past week. He lamented that Ukraine continues to pay a heavy price for what he described as the West's "clumsiness, inconsistency, and inadequacy," evidenced by the slow progress on EU sanctions packages.
"With this pace, it seems we will soon need a 22nd, and later a 122nd package," Linkevičius stated, underscoring his frustration with the perceived lack of urgency in European responses. He argued that Russia's ability to sustain drone and guided bomb attacks is considerable due to sufficient production, though missile attacks are more resource-intensive and likely to fluctuate.
Russia is going 'all in,' thinking it has nothing to lose, but in reality, it is losing the ability to continue its senseless and futile adventure at a similar intensity. Russia is going nowhere. Or more accurately – certainly not towards Ukraine, but towards its own self-destruction.
Linkevičius asserted that Russia is pursuing a "go all in" strategy, believing it has nothing to lose. However, he countered that this path is leading not towards victory in Ukraine, but towards Russia's "self-destruction." He dismissed narratives suggesting a destabilized Russia would pose a threat, arguing that while unpredictable, Russia lacks the means for conventional warfare.
No one respects Russia, and they are feared much like a mental patient. No one can guess what will pop into his head. Talking about a conventional threat from that country is not really possible for very objective reasons and probably for a long time.
"No one respects Russia, and they are feared much like a mental patient," Linkevičius commented, adding that Russia's arsenal consists primarily of "terrorism, provocations, military hooliganism, and nuclear blackmail." He concluded that Russia is incapable of achieving conventional military objectives and that its continued aggression, coupled with a reluctance for general mobilization, indicates a strategic dead end.
Russia has no methods of warfare in its arsenal – only terrorism, provocations, military hooliganism, and nuclear blackmail.
Originally published by Delfi in Lithuanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.