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Budrys had a telephone conversation with Kallas

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Updated 2025-12-01

On 1 December, Kęstutis Budrys, Minister of Foreign Affairs, had a telephone conversation with Kaja Kallas, European Commission Vice-President and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Budrys and Kallas discussed the Belarusian hybrid attack against Lithuania and the necessary EU response measures to stop it.

Budrys informed Kallas about the intensifying actions of the hybrid attack against Lithuania by Belarus in recent days. The Minister said that when Belarusian authorities have been deliberately targeting Vilnius Airport, Lithuania was forced to temporarily impose airspace restrictions several times last week alone. According to Budrys, over 7400 passengers and 50 flights were affected by these restrictions over Sunday night alone, with 31 flights cancelled, 10 diverted, and 9 delayed. The Minister also emphasised that the Lukashenka regime continues to hold EU companies' property on its territory and is using it as a blackmail tool to force Lithuania to open a political dialogue.

"It is not the first time that the Belarusian regime has resorted to hybrid measures against EU countries. A few years ago, it instrumentalised migration; now it uses smuggler balloons. By blackmailing Lithuania and demanding that the country open a political dialogue, the Lukashenka regime seeks to break the EU's firm stance, escape international isolation and lift sanctions. We cannot allow this to happen," said Budrys.

The Minister and Kallas discussed progress in the preparation of the EU's response to Belarus. Budrys stressed that the EU must take action to protect its citizens, show determination and unity not only through statements of solidarity, but through concrete actions. The Minister underlined that Lithuania had submitted proposals to the European Commission on 28 October to impose additional sanctions against Belarus and expects progress on this issue soon.

"Tighter sanctions against the Belarusian regime are a necessary response to the ongoing actions. The EU cannot silently observe and tolerate how the Lukashenka regime indiscriminately terrorises an EU member state, seizes property and purposefully poses risks to the security of citizens. This is an attack not only against Lithuania, but against the EU as a whole. The EU needs to show a strong backbone," said the Minister.

At the end of October, Lithuania submitted proposals to the European Commission for the inclusion of an additional criterion for hybrid attacks against Belarus in the EU sanctions regime. Lithuania also proposes that the EU impose additional sectoral sanctions on Belarus.