According to Linkevicius, elections organised by separatists that took place last weekend in Donetsk and Luhansk demonstrate the deterioration of the situation in eastern Ukraine and violate the agreements signed in Minsk in September. The minister says the event should encourage the international community to rally together even more without toning down sanctions against Russia over its role in the conflict in Ukraine.
"It is a defining moment not only in Ukraine, but for our actions as well, and the cohesion of the international community. Certain tendencies were heard already earlier offering to change tactics, alleging they were not as effective. I believe now is the time to rally together and (maintain – ELTA) the pressure on those who make decisions," Linkevicius told the Ziniu Radijas radio on Thursday.
According to the foreign minister, if pressure on Russia is relieved now, then preconditions to "freeze" the Donbas conflict would be created and this would hinder Ukraine's integration into the European area. And this is what the conflict initiators want.
Linkevicius said that Moscow's actions are becoming more cynical and blatant – terrorist groups are being supported candidly and there is a threat that separatists may push deeper into eastern Ukraine.
Linas Linkevicius opposes the opinion expressed by Head of the EU Delegation to Russia Vygaudas Usackas who claimed that the Lithuanian media provides one-sided information about Russia.
"In short, of course I do not agree. I hope he was misunderstood or said something unclearly. () It would be disrespectful and unfair, taking into account the situation, to talk about our media," the foreign minister told the radio Ziniu Radijas on Thursday.
According to Linkevicius, greater attention should be devoted to the Russian media which is owned by the state.
Speaking at Kaunas University of Technology on 3 November Vygaudas Usackas expressed an opinion that information about Russia in the Lithuanian information space is one-sided and biased. Later the Head of the EU Delegation to Russia apologised for his words.
