Lithuania Issues Protest Note to Russia Over Attacks on Ukrainian Civilians
Lithuania has delivered an official protest note to a representative of the Russian Embassy in Vilnius, condemning Russia’s intensified war against Ukraine, particularly the killing of civilians and prisoners of war, The Gaze reports, citing LRT.
The protest, issued through the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, came amid renewed drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv.
“Lithuania strongly condemns the killing of unarmed Ukrainian prisoners of war and the intensified strikes on Ukrainian cities using missiles and drones. These attacks result in deaths and serious injuries to innocent civilians, including children, and destroy civilian infrastructure,” the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
Lithuania stressed that such acts constitute war crimes with no statute of limitations and asserted that all perpetrators “will eventually be held accountable.”
The ministry also criticized Russia’s refusal to implement a ceasefire of at least 30 days, saying it signals Moscow’s unwillingness to end the war or engage in genuine peace efforts.
“By refusing a ceasefire, Russia demonstrates its aggressive intention to continue the war and effectively rejects the international community’s efforts to stop the killings,” the statement added.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys, who met with EU ambassadors following the latest attacks, warned that Russia’s continued impunity undermines any prospects for a sustainable peace. He urged the European Union to swiftly adopt its 18th package of sanctions.
The EU recently passed the 17th sanctions package, which includes blacklisting around 200 oil tankers used to circumvent export restrictions on Russian oil. Lithuanian officials are calling for additional sanctions targeting more vessels from Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” energy companies, LNG exporters, and Russian banks.
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