Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Landsbergis at the United Nations: “Russia will continue its aggression until it enjoys impunity”
Updated 2023-02-28
On 23 February, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis attended and spoke at the United Nations General Assembly’s Eleventh Emergency Special Session on Ukraine, which took place one year after Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine.
“Russia’s real objective is to create spheres of influence, instability and domination that harken back to colonial times by involving the United Nations and the international community in its distorted game. It contradicts the very essence and meaning of the United Nations.
Russia will continue its aggression until it enjoys impunity,” Landsbergis said at the UN General Assembly.
The Foreign Minister stressed that Russia’s war against Ukraine grossly violated the principles of the UN Charter and that the crimes committed by Russia could be classified as genocide. Thus, the international community must make every effort to bring Russia and all those involved in planning and committing those crimes to justice.
“We should remember that Russia began the war against Ukraine in 2014 when it illegally annexed Crimea and occupied territories in eastern Ukraine.
In his speech, the Foreign Minister also condemned Russia’s systematic attacks on civilians in Ukraine and the targeted destruction of critical infrastructure, the human rights and humanitarian catastrophe caused by Russia. Landsbergis also emphasized the support provided by the state and citizens of Lithuania to Ukraine. In addition, Lithuania’s Foreign Minister thanked the international community for its solidarity and the UN Secretary-General for his principled position on Russia’s war.
Landsbergis also voiced his support for Ukraine’s peace plan and a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in line with the Charter of the United Nations.
Landsbergis also discussed these issues at a meeting with the UN Secretary-General António Guterres. In addition, the Foreign Minister drew the Secretary-General’s attention to Russia’s manipulation of information on the likely impact of the EU sanctions on food security, including global fertilizer prices.
The UN General Assembly’s Emergency Special Session is attended by nearly 40 ministers or other high-level representatives.
