VILNIUS/RIGA (dpa-AFX) – In view of the intensified Ukraine conflict, Lithuania and Latvia are demanding immediate sanctions from the West against Russia and a strengthening of NATO’s eastern flank. The fact that Russian troops are staying in Belarus, contrary to Moscow’s previous assurances, is a “game changer for the security of the NATO countries bordering Belarus,” Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis wrote on Twitter on Sunday. “NATO reinforcements and EU sanctions are appropriate.”
His Latvian counterpart Edgars Rinkevics also tweeted, referring to the whereabouts of troops and ongoing “aggression against Ukraine”: “It is clear that the transatlantic community must start implementing sanctions against Russia and NATO should station more forces in the region. “
Baltic EU and NATO members Lithuania and Latvia both border Russia, as well as Russia’s ally Belarus.
Belarus and Russia have been holding a major maneuver together for the past ten days. That should end on Sunday. Now both countries want to continue their military exercises. It was initially unclear how many Russian soldiers will remain in the neighboring country.
At the same time, according to Western sources, Russia has gathered around 150,000 soldiers on the border with neighboring Ukraine, but denies any plans of attack. In the past few days, the situation has worsened, especially along the front line in south-eastern Ukraine between the Ukrainian army and the Moscow-backed separatists, who have controlled the Donetsk and Luhansk regions for years./awe/DP/jha