Lithuanian FM warns Russia can do ‘so much damage to its neighbors’

United Nations, New York – UNITED NATIONS — Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis tells FOX News Digital he shares his perspective as someone on the border of the invasion of Ukraine, saying Russia could inflict “huge damage” even if its power wanes. This included concerns.

“In 2014, before the first war in Ukraine began, the American people and Western leaders said, “Russia is in decline, in decline, and its regional power is no longer a global power.'' , its influence is waning,'' Landsbergis said. “But on its way down, it can cause significant damage to neighboring countries.”

“That's not a correct assessment,” he added, adding that even if Russia was in decline as much as Western leaders thought, the “upheaval” of such a great power's death could “last for decades.” He said there is.

“No one knows when or how it will stop…It's very difficult to imagine or predict,” he said.

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Even before the 2014 invasion of Crimea, Lithuania remained one of the most vocal countries in Eastern Europe over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. As part of this, we have proudly accepted NATO's role on the continent.

Lithuania's rate was well below 2%, but Expenditures necessary for defense In 2014, Lithuania met this requirement by 2021, a full year before the invasion of Ukraine began, and only continued to increase its defense spending.

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Lithuania's spending will reach 3.2% in 2023, making it one of the countries with the highest spending (as a percentage of GDP) among NATO members, after Poland, the United States, Greece, and Estonia.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabriels Landsbergis and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken hold a joint press conference in Vilnius, Lithuania, on March 7, 2022. (Olivier Douliery/Pool, via Reuters)

Landsbergis is using this, and the overall increase in defense spending in NATO countries over the past two years, to demonstrate the ability of European countries to “join forces” against a power the size of Russia. he claimed.

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“Even the biggest critics have to admit that it's now over $100 billion…I mean, that's a huge amount. No one really expected Europe to be able to do that,” Landsbergis said. Ta.

Gabrielius Landsbergis (Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket, Getty Images/File)

“The question is: Is that enough? And does it prohibit such acts against neighboring countries like Ukraine from being repeated in the future?” he said. “Here we see the problem of Europe needing to grow, because all European industries need to step up spending on defense.”

Asked whether Europe lacks clear leadership or has stagnated in recent years, Landsbergis disagreed, but acknowledged there is room for improvement in the European Union.

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“The union is made up of 27 members, each with veto power, right?” Landsbergis pointed out. “It's difficult to have a smooth process that doesn't require a lot of discussion and consensus-building.”

He added: “This is where we are at the moment. The need for reform is being discussed.” “I think it will… happen. Europe will have to adapt to the new requirements of this time and age, and perhaps the principles will also change.”