Latest news with #Sakalienė
Euronews
3 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Russia is 'mocking' the US, Lithuanian defense minister says
Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovilė Šakalienė has accused Russia of "mocking" the US government over the Kremlin's refusal to engage meaningfully in ceasefire talks. She warns that instead of being pressured into ending the war, the Kremlin is pushing forward with mobilizing 1.5 million students by the end of the year. 'In my opinion they already mocked the American government- they are showing disrespect to any effort to reach an agreement', she told Euronews. Šakalienė also said Russia has not been put under pressure by the US obliging them to make concessions or cease its military campaign against Ukrainian civilians and civilian infrastructure. "On the other hand why should they stop" [their attacks]. They have really transformed their economy to a war time economy. They are moving very fast with their armed forces reform. – to have 1.5 million soldiers by end of the year". Minister Sakalienė was speaking to reporters during a NATO military exercise, this year's "Iron Wolf" [alluding to a creature from Lithuanian mythology], which included a simulated counter-offensive featuring German tanks and Lithuanian infantry fighting vehicles. The exercise also included an air Assault Operation, including para-troopers drop-offs, as part of the US-led exercise "Swift Response'. Six NATO allies were involved in the paratrooper exercise including the US, Germany, Italy, France, and the Netherlands. The point of the exercise is to evaluate NATO's readiness to conduct military operations in the event of a invasion by Russia into NATO territory, in particular the Baltic countries, former Soviet republics. Sakalienė believes there is no incentive for Russia to stop its campaign in Ukraine, as well as its "imperialistic" ambitions across Europe which the minister said is further strengthened by the Kremlin's collaboration with North Korea, Iran and China: "Russia's military industry is really gaining speed. They are still moving forward in Ukraine. Why should they stop?' The minister was responding to questions about the failed attempt at peace talks in Turkey when Putin refused to show up and sent a delegation headed by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky to meet with the Ukrainian delegation. Ukraine president Volodymr Zelenskyy went to Ankara to meet President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He said he was willing to travel to Istanbul but only if Putin showed up. 'So currently what I see is basically a mocking game I don't think it's going to lead us anywhere', she said. Sakalienė called the efforts to stop the war 'worthwhile' but, ultimately, the only way to end the war in Ukraine was through military means. 'I think the efforts by the US to stop this war are worthwhile. We'll see how that ends but in my opinion in the end what is going to be the only efficient means is regenerating the Ukrainian army and building military muscle in Europe. That's the only deterrent.' NATO defence ministers will meet in Brussels next week, when the United Kingdom and Germany convene the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at NATO HQ.
Euronews
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Lithuanian defense minister urges Europe to be 'armed to the teeth' amid US-Russia talks
America's pivot towards more cooperation with Russia is the beginning of a 'very difficult process' and requires Europe to the 'armed to the teeth', said Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovilė Sakalienė talking to Euronew's Europe Conversation. 'We need to have instruments that are capable of ensuring that all the states that are on the borders of Nato are fully protected', she added. 'Because if infringement happens on one inch of territory of Lithuania, Latvia or Finland, then everybody falls'. Minister Sakalienė attended the NATO Defense Ministers Summit in Brussels on 12th and 13th February when US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told allies that Ukraine's ambition to join Nato, and return to its pre-2014 borders – before the Russian invasion were 'unrealistic'. Šakalienė emphasised that NATO now finds itself in a very difficult moment. 'We are in the beginning of a very difficult process where we will have to find specific ways to generate strength.' "Armed to the teeth" She said although Europe has increased spending on defense it was not 'matching the speed of Russian military industry, of Russian transition from peacetime to wartime economy, or of Russian assembly of troops at quite the threatening speed.' The 'good part of the message is that peace through strength was reiterated all around the room', she said of the meeting of Nato ministers with Hegseth. However recent pronouncements from the US are widely seen as a seismic change in America's approach to the traditional transatlantic relationship. In relation to the deployment of troops to Ukraine as part of a ceasefire, and ongoing talks between Russia and the US, Minister Sakalienė says its more important for Europe to be armed and ready. 'Talks are completely irrelevant right now. Funds and production is what is really relevant because as I said, if we really want to stand strong by Ukraine and if we really want to stand strong in the face of Russia's preparation for the next stages of imperial expansion, then we need to be armed to our teeth.' Exile in Siberia Lithuania which share a border with Russia has living memory of the 'horrors' of the Soviet Union. Minister Sakalienė said her mother 'barely survived' the harsh conditions of being exiled in Siberia. 'I come from a family that was persecuted by Russians. My mother was born in Siberia and barely survived. My family was imprisoned, tortured, murdered. We know that when Russians come, then your best case scenario is that you are imprisoned or deported.' 'But most likely you will be raped, tortured and murdered. And therefore, that is the threat that is actually looming over Europe right now. And if we understand that stopping the active frontline in Ukraine means that Russia will immediately accelerate its accumulation of forces that it is gathering for the next imperial stage expansion. That means that we have a very short time period to get ready.'
