Russia is 'mocking' the US, Lithuanian defense minister tells Euronews

Published connected 31/05/2025 - 15:57 GMT+2•Updated 15:59

Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovilė Šakalienė has accused Russia of "mocking" the US authorities implicit the Kremlin's refusal to prosecute meaningfully successful ceasefire talks. She warns that alternatively of being pressured into ending the war, the Kremlin is pushing guardant with mobilizing 1.5 cardinal students by the extremity of the year.

“In my sentiment they already mocked the American government- they are showing disrespect to immoderate effort to scope an agreement”, she told Euronews.

Šakalienė besides said Russia has not been enactment nether unit by the US obliging them to marque concessions oregon cease its subject run against Ukrainian civilians and civilian infrastructure.

"On the different manus wherefore should they stop" [their attacks]. They person truly transformed their system to a warfare clip economy. They are moving precise accelerated with their equipped forces reform.  – to person 1.5 cardinal soldiers by extremity of the year".

Minister Sakalienė was speaking to reporters during a NATO subject exercise, this year's "Iron Wolf" [alluding to a carnal from Lithuanian mythology], which included a simulated counter-offensive featuring German tanks and Lithuanian infantry warring vehicles.

The workout besides included an aerial Assault Operation, including para-troopers drop-offs, arsenic portion of the US-led workout "Swift Response”.

Six NATO allies were progressive successful the paratrooper workout including the US, Germany, Italy, France, and the Netherlands.

The constituent of the workout is to measure NATO's readiness to behaviour subject operations successful the lawsuit of a penetration by Russia into NATO territory, successful peculiar the Baltic countries, erstwhile Soviet republics.

'Worthwhile' efforts by US but 'military muscle' lone deterrent

Sakalienė believes determination is nary inducement for Russia to halt its run successful Ukraine, arsenic good arsenic its "imperialistic" ambitions crossed Europe which the curate said is further strengthened by the Kremlin’s collaboration with North Korea, Iran and China:

"Russia’s military manufacture is truly gaining speed. They are inactive moving guardant successful Ukraine. Why should they stop?”

The curate was responding to questions astir the failed effort astatine bid talks successful Turkey erstwhile Putin refused to amusement up and sent a delegation headed by statesmanlike adjutant Vladimir Medinsky to conscionable with the Ukrainian delegation.

Ukraine president Volodymr Zelenskyy went to Ankara to conscionable President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He said helium was consenting to question to Istanbul but lone if Putin showed up.

“So presently what I spot is fundamentally a mocking crippled I don’t deliberation it’s going to pb america anywhere”, she said.

Sakalienė called the efforts to halt the warfare “worthwhile” but, ultimately, the lone mode to extremity the warfare successful Ukraine was done subject means.

“I deliberation the efforts by the US to halt this warfare are worthwhile. We’ll spot however that ends but successful my sentiment successful the extremity what is going to beryllium the lone businesslike means is regenerating the Ukrainian service and gathering subject musculus successful Europe. That’s the lone deterrent.”

NATO defence ministers volition conscionable successful Brussels adjacent week, erstwhile the United Kingdom and Germany convene the Ukraine Defence Contact Group astatine NATO HQ.