Ukraine war: Lithuania expels Russian envoy, decides to shut Consulate General in Klaipeda

In response to Russian military offensive against Ukraine, Lithuanian ministration on Monday, April 4, anunced its decision to expel its Russian ambassor. Lithuania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in ir statement outlined that ambassor of Russia to Lithuania will need to leave country. government has decided to shut Consulate General in Klaipeda in response to ongoing military offensive against Ukraine at behest of Vlimir Putin. decision of Lithuanian ministration comes at a time when military aggression by Russia has entered its 40th day today.

Lithuania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in ir statement revealed that representatives of Russian Embassy in Vilnius who h been summoned to Foreign Ministry have been informed regarding decision. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabriel Landsbergis asserted that country has decided to lower level of diplomatic representation with Moscow. He furr ded that ambassor of Russia to Lithuania can return to country in near future. Furrmore, Landsbergis underlined that y express full solidarity with Ukrainians who have been suffering for long owing to Russia's "unprecedented aggression." He also emphasized that Lithuania, in strongest terms, condemns atrocities committed by Russian armed forces in occupied Ukrainian cities. 

'War crimes committed by Russian troops in Ukraine will t be forgotten': Landsbergis

In statement, Gabriel Landsbergis mentioned "horrific massacres" in Bucha and or Ukrainian cities. Furrmore, Lithuanian Foreign Minister warned that scenes witnessed by international community in Bucha might be only beginning. He furr ded that y might see more "horrific examples of war crimes" in or liberated cities. He even asserted that war crimes committed by Russian troops in Ukraine will t be "forgotten." Earlier on April 3, Landsbergis condemned Russia's action in Ukraine's Bucha and stressed that y can imagine what could be happening in or occupied regions. He called on EU to opt action, ding that purchasing Russian oil and gas is similar to financing war crimes. 

Lithuania completely abandons Russian gas

On April 2, Lithuanian government anunced its decision of giving up use of Russian gas completely, reby becoming first EU nation to do so.  country's Ministry of Energy has anunced  decision on its official website. It stated that striving for complete energy independence from Russian gas, Lithuania has completely abandoned Russian gas in response to Russia's energy blackmail in Europe and war in Ukraine. According to statement,  Lithuanian gas transmission system has been running without Russian gas imports since beginning of this month. country w gets its energy from klaipeda liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal. Lithuania Energy Minister Dainius Kreivys stated that y are first EU country among Russia's Gazprom's supply countries to secure independence from Russian gas supply.