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Linas Linkevicius: EU should take stricter measures against Russia

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Linas Linkevicius: EU should take stricter measures against Russia

The current sanctions against Moscow are not sufficient.

The statement was made by Lithuanian foreign minister Linas Linkevicius.

“The taken measures are not sufficient, because, unfortunately, we don't see any progress and efforts [from Russia] to de-escalate the situation, but rather the reverse,” he said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine ahead of the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting, which is scheduled for April 14 in Luxembourg.

According to Linkevicius, there is information about the involvement of “Russia's representatives” in the events in eastern Ukraine. He thinks the situation resembles the recent events in Crimea.

“The further we go, the more different signs we see that these are the same military groups that took part in Crimean events: the same uniform, the same weapons, the same communication frequencies. Many signs indicate the influence of a third state, namely Russia,” the foreign minister of Lithuania said.

Linkevicius is confident the EU measures should be stricter. “It concerns the second phase in relation to particular individuals. We should do our best to restore peace and hold the presidential election on May 25 according to the plans, though it will be difficult, as we see the efforts to destabilise the situation,” he explained.

Answering the question about a possibility of applying the so called third phase – economic sanctions – the minister noted the phase was “more difficult, as it should be applied more carefully”. “Such restrictions as an arms embargo are evident and cannot be argued. Other issues should be discussed as well. I think the European Commission will propose its variants,” the Lithuanian foreign minister said.

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