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At an informal meeting of EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Landsbergis calls on the EU to tighten sanctions against Iran and provide Ukraine with air defence

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2024.04.17

On April 16, EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs held an informal video teleconference to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East in light of the April 14 attack on Israel by Iran and its allies. Lithuania was represented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gabrielius Landsbergis.

The head of Lithuania's diplomacy condemned the unprecedented attack with drones and missiles against Israel by Iran, stressing that such actions proved the growing determination of aggressive regimes to challenge Western states. Landsbergis called for an immediate tightening of sanctions against Iran for its attempts to destabilise the region and support Russia's aggression against Ukraine (by imposing more drone component bans and new restrictions on ballistic-missile-related activities).

In his speech, Landsbergis drew attention to the consequences of Western delay in tightening sanctions. Iran fired at least 300 Shahed drones and ballistic missiles at Israel over the weekend. Moreover, last week, Russia attacked Ukraine with some 180 Shahed drones, which Russia uses in the war of aggression against Ukraine.

Lithuania's Foreign Minister identified the immediate priorities, emphasising the need to avoid the spread of conflict in the region that would have disastrous consequences for the Middle East and Ukraine, which continues to fight against Russia.

Landsbergis stressed that the success of Israel's and its allies' joint efforts to defend against Iranian missiles and drones must lead to enhanced air defence supplies for Ukraine. "Western fear of escalating the situation by providing air defence to Ukraine will allow Russia to take advantage of such hesitation for its benefit," Lithuania's Foreign Minister said.

Concerning the situation in Gaza, the Foreign Minister recalled the remaining need to strive for the release of all hostages, the humanitarian ceasefire, and restart the Middle East peace process.