„I think the undoubtedly confirmed message of this visit is that our strategic partners across the Atlantic are sending a clear message to Moscow, Russia, that they are watching, they see, and they care. I believe this is support in the context of our region,“ said the Prime Minister at a press conference in Tallinn on Thursday.
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„The eyes are not only turned to the Middle East and Iran, but attention to Europe, attention to Ukraine remains, and I think the purpose of this visit probably includes these topics,“ he said.
The publication „The Wall Street Journal“ and the television channel „CBS News“ reported that CIA Director John Ratcliffe sought in the Kremlin to deter Russia from attacking NATO members, with US intelligence believing that Moscow may seek to test the alliance.
Earlier, politicians and intelligence have indicated that Russia is considering attacks on critical infrastructure in the Alliance’s Eastern flank countries, using Ukrainian drones.
US President Donald Trump said that Ratcliffe’s visit to Moscow on Tuesday was „semi-routine,“ implying that the intelligence chief came to the Russian capital to discuss the war in Ukraine.
M. Sinkevičius and Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal emphasized that the level of military threat in no country has changed at the moment.
„This does not mean that incidents, various hybrid attacks, drones, instrumentalized migration in our case from Belarus will not be carried out or will not be carried out more intensively. It is just that there are currently no objective facts or monitoring information confirming this,“ said M. Sinkevičius.
„But certainly, even today we talked with the Prime Minister that this is definitely not a calm period. The geopolitical situation is not calm, not very stable, and we must, as sovereign countries, collectively prepare, get ready, invest in our security and defense,“ he said.
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According to K. Michal, „Russia is well aware of NATO’s capability and ability to act, and knows that NATO is strong.“
As noted by the Lithuanian and Estonian prime ministers, both countries will act together and in solidarity, not yielding to any intimidation, considering defense funding a priority, and continuing to support Ukraine and its fight for freedom.
Moreover, M. Sinkevičius once again reiterated that there is currently no reason to reconsider the sanctions imposed on Russia’s ally Belarus.
„To say that Belarus’s behavior has changed or significantly changed, I see no grounds. (…) So far, the current assessment does not create grounds to change the sanctions policy towards Belarus,“ said the head of government.
J. Ratcliffe is one of the highest-ranking US officials to visit Russia since 2022, when its war with Ukraine began.
His Tuesday visit took place as Moscow intensified its offensive in Ukraine – this summer, the number of civilian casualties sharply increased due to attacks, and US-mediated peace talks have long been stalled.
President Gitanas Nausėda said that Lithuania was informed about the visit, and according to him, data about its goals and content should be provided to allies next week.
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