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Budrys in Brussels: When our deterrence is too weak, dictators take action against us

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Updated 2025-11-20

On 20 November, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kęstutis Budrys, participated in the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union in Brussels.

When speaking to reporters ahead of the meeting, the Minister stressed that the Belarusian regime was using hybrid attacks against EU member states not for the first time, so a strong and united response was necessary.

"When deterrence does not work, when we are not strong in our response, then we see that dictators take another criminal activity, instrumentalize it, and use it against us. So this time, this is the smuggling operations, smuggler balloons that interfere with our civilian aviation, disrupt our flights, and cause us millions in damage. On a national scale, Lithuania did its job. It is important that the EU also takes action and sends a strong message that it will not tolerate hybrid attacks against member states and is ready to use all tools to protect the safety of its citizens. We respond with the measures that we have. Sanctions - that's one of the measures. And we are proposing to add the criteria for hybrid attacks to the sanctions against Belarus," said the head of Lithuania's diplomacy.

Foreign Ministers also discussed support for Ukraine. According to Budrys, all European countries need to understand that the issue of support for Ukraine is vital for Europe itself. The Minister stressed the need to find solutions and commit to the provision of further financial support for the country defending itself against the Russian aggression.

"Frozen Russian assets are to be used for the benefit of Ukraine. We support the European Commission's proposal, and we say that we have to move now, because if we are not doing it today, if we are not having the political consensus on it, if we are not providing the solution for the December European Council, it means that we are in trouble at the beginning of the next year. That's why frozen assets have to be used in the loan operation for Ukraine. Otherwise, I want to see the money on the table, not speeches of political solidarity," said Budrys.