The fire at the former Lithuanian Foreign Minister’s most important regional oil refinery, just 17 kilometers from the forum location, was meant to remind investors that expecting stability and market attractiveness in this country is futile.
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“At least until the unnecessary and unprovoked military adventure started by Russia itself ends,” added L. Linkevičius.
Ukraine hits targets successfully and accurately from distances greater than 1000 km. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky calls this “long-range sanctions.”
“The impact is important not only militarily, politically, or economically. Such increasingly frequent strikes on the enemy’s rear have a special psychological significance.
Both for ordinary citizens and for the leader who portrays himself as controlling everything. It painfully damages the image,” wrote the diplomat.
According to him, so far V. Putin can still travel to the Kremlin in huge motorcades along Moscow streets “cleared” of any living soul. However, as L. Linkevičius notes, feeling like an all-powerful ruler is becoming impossible.
“Facts ‘on the ground’ cannot be denied by such artificial puffed-up performances. And those facts painfully cut through the carefully painted ‘Potemkin’ picture and destroy their own myths about a superpower, unparalleled weapons in the world, and the assumed mission to save the world.
The front is irreversibly and hopelessly stuck, and the economy is inevitably collapsing as well. The supposed sense of security and untouchability is gone. The summer season will no longer take place in Crimea, and not only because of the gasoline shortage,” explained the former Lithuanian foreign affairs head.
According to him, the only thing left is to continue terrorizing civilians, frightening, tormenting, and hoping they will not endure. It is becoming increasingly difficult for the Russians to do this with drones. Ukraine has managed to cover up to 90% of its sky with its innovative means.
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“The weak spot is defense against ballistic missiles. It is believed that Russia, although it does not have unlimited reserves, has sufficiently restored and expanded production. In the near future, it could conduct regular missile campaigns. These include ‘Kinzhal’ type missiles, ‘Iskander,’ and also those obtained from North Korea. It is believed that they can produce 60-70 ‘Iskander’ missiles per month. That is why Zelensky’s request to the US for ‘Patriot’ defense systems is more relevant than ever.
Russia will certainly have enough fuel for this terror bonfire. They are not disturbed without reason that Ukrainians are not idle either. They are creating their far-reaching capabilities. Zelensky recently mentioned that there was a ‘disciplinary conversation’ with the Russians. It can be assumed that the Kremlin was warned that its terror will not go unanswered and that Ukraine has and will have even more means to respond adequately,” wrote the diplomat.
Concluding his post, L. Linkevičius asked – where is all this leading?
In his assessment, not only soldiers but also civilians will continue to be killed unnecessarily. And V. Putin, strategically cornered, certainly will not stop. He will continue to intimidate, kill, and terrorize.
“Yesterday I returned from Kyiv. I saw what burned and exploded civilian objects look like, a shopping center, a marketplace, shattered glass in residential buildings. Yesterday alone in Kyiv, four people died, and over 10 across the country.
By going to Kyiv, we demonstrate our solidarity. Western diplomats, despite Kremlin threats, did not withdraw from the capital. But it is not us, but the Ukrainians who will decide how much and how to resist. Not us, but they will decide about fatigue and resilience. Our task is not only to demonstrate solidarity but also to act concretely.
If we do not hurry with greater, unrestricted military support to Ukraine and much stronger pressure with sanctions on Russia – we ourselves will be responsible for the overly prolonged war,” explained L. Linkevičius.
As he noted, V. Putin is experiencing a crisis, and it is mandatory to take advantage of it, not to let him get out of that swamp dry again.
“Especially since there are quite a few in the West who want to preserve Putin and his regime. Allegedly for the sake of stability, but actually because of their business interests,” summarized the ambassador.
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