Budrys at the EU Foreign Affairs Council: there is no Trojan horse in the roomActivities of the Minister of Foreign AffairsEuropean UnionNews of the Ministry

Today, on 21 April, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Kęstutis Budrys is participating in the European Union's Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, where the EU Foreign Ministers will discuss the EU's response to Russia's aggression against Ukraine, sanctions on Russia, support for Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, and the situation in the South Caucasus.

Ahead of the meeting, while speaking to journalists, the head of Lithuania's diplomacy first welcomed the results of the elections in Hungary.

"There is no longer a Trojan horse in the room. On the other hand, what has been done must not be forgotten; the sharing of information from our meetings with Russia must be thoroughly investigated. We cannot allow such violations to go unexamined," said Budrys.

According to the Minister, it is necessary at this moment to take advantage of and unblock the €90 billion loan to Ukraine, which Hungary has so far vetoed. Budrys also reiterated the call to formally open accession negotiations with Ukraine and to approve the 20th package of sanctions against Russia.

"We have to move forward because this is a real tool with which we can pressure Russia and move toward a just and lasting peace," the Minister said.

Budrys pointed out that the EU must respond to the pressure from Lukashenko's regime and its recent step to declare the European Humanities University operating in Vilnius as an extremist organization.

"This means that the Belarusian regime is threatening the university, students, and their families. We must respond to this. And we must respond by pressuring the regime, preventing its attempts to exploit global events and threaten our security," said Budrys.

The Minister also expressed support for diplomatic efforts in the Middle East as well as the initiative of the United Kingdom and France to ensure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.