Latest news with #Budrys
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lithuania's chief diplomat becomes first foreign minister to visit Kherson since its 2022 liberation
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys, together with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha, has visited the city of Kherson and the oblast. Source: Budrys and Sybiha on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda Details: Sybiha stated that Budrys is the first foreign minister to visit the city since its liberation in autumn 2022. "This is a powerful sign of solidarity with our people amid constant Russian terror against Kherson," Sybiha tweeted. Details: The foreign ministers visited a critical infrastructure facility, an underground school and a maternity hospital. They also paid tribute to the defenders of Kherson. They spoke with Kherson residents, met with local authorities, discussed urgent needs and focused on specific initiatives to expand international assistance to the city. "Devastation, destroyed cities, schools, hospitals and broken lives," Budrys stated. "'Human Safari', heavy shelling and drones' attacks – hundreds killed and thousands injured. This is the reality of what people of Kherson live with today." Budrys added that he and Sybiha had also visited Mykolaiv Oblast. Quote from Budrys: "Everywhere we went – we saw just inhuman cruelty and crimes of Russian aggression. And this is happening in the 21st century. All those responsible for the crimes against humanity must be held accountable and face justice. Impunity leads nowhere else than to more aggression and cruelty." Background: On 9 June, Budrys arrived in Kyiv on an official visit. Budrys shared that he had travelled to the Ukrainian capital through a "shower of missiles and drones" launched by Russia. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lithuanian foreign minister comments on his journey to Kyiv during Russian attack: "Shower of missiles and drones"
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys, who arrived in Kyiv on Monday 9 June for an official visit, has shared that he had travelled to the Ukrainian capital through a "shower of missiles and drones" launched by Russia. Source: Budrys on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda Details: Budrys noted that Russia has recently intensified its strikes on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure. Quote: "This morning, our train had to pass through the shower of missiles and drones striking the cities of Rivne and Dubno. Just days ago, a strike on Kharkiv killed and injured dozens, including children." Details: He emphasised that these are "deliberate acts of terror aimed at breaking Ukraine's will". Quote: "But Ukraine stands firm, defending not just its territory, but the principles of freedom and democracy in Europe. In fact, Ukraine is defending Europe. Peace will not come through appeasement. The world must stay united in supporting Ukraine – militarily, economically and politically." Background: Budrys is scheduled to hold a number of meetings in Kyiv, including with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha and Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna. Russia launched a total of 499 drones and missiles on Ukraine on the night of 8-9 June, of which 479 were downed by air defence systems. Rivne Oblast came under particularly heavy attack. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lithuanian foreign minister arrives in Kyiv to discuss frontline situation and pressure on Russia
Lithuania's Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys arrived in Kyiv on Monday 9 June for a working visit during which he will hold several meetings. Source: Lithuania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as reported by European Pravda Details: During the visit, Budrys is set to meet his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna, Strategic Industries Minister Herman Smetanin and National Security and Defence Council Secretary Oleksandr Lytvynenko. Meetings with Head of the Office of the President Andrii Yermak and Defence Minister Rustem Umierov are also planned. "The minister will discuss the frontline situation, international efforts aimed at forcing Russia to cease fire and declare a truce as a prerequisite for peace negotiations," the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry stated. Budrys also plans to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine, priorities in military, diplomatic, financial and humanitarian support, Ukraine's progress in EU integration and measures to deter and counter Russia. This is Budrys's third visit to Ukraine since assuming the post of foreign minister. His most recent visit took place on 1 April 2025. Background: In May, Budrys called on the EU to begin work on a new package of sanctions against Russia that would be truly effective. He also stated that Russia has no right to impose its terms concerning Ukraine's future. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lithuanian foreign minister urges strong response to Russia's overnight strike on Ukraine
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys has called for a strong response to the Russian Federation's large-scale overnight attack on Ukraine. Source: Budrys on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda Details: Budrys described Russia's night attack on Ukraine as "a show of sheer brutality". "Over 250 Shahed drones, 14 ballistic missiles and innocent lives lost. This wasn't just an attack. It was a message of impunity," the diplomat said. He emphasised that the response must be "stronger than Russian aggression". "More military support and weapons to Ukraine, harsher sanctions and isolation of Russia. Appeasement isn't a path towards peace – it's a permission to continue the aggression," Budrys stated. Background: Meanwhile, former Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis sarcastically recalled that Ukraine had been promised Taurus missiles and crushing sanctions against the Russian Federation. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also called on the international community – particularly the United States – not to remain silent, and to step up pressure on the Kremlin. On the night of 24-25 May, Poland scrambled fighter jets in response to Russia's large-scale missile attack on Ukrainian territory. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'It is already being prepared' — Ukraine, Lithuania call for harsher sanctions against Russia in 18th package
Various European leaders are calling on the European Union to implement harsher sanctions against Russia in the upcoming 18th sanctions package. Speaking to reporters in Brussels on May 20, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said that harsher sanctions must be imposed as Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to reject a 30-day ceasefire proposal. "Deception, disruption, distraction, and delay, and the whole point of it is to avoid sanctions," Budrys , in a likely reference to Putin's phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump that yielded no commitments to a ceasefire. "We Europeans have to stop this vicious cycle and the instrument to stop it is to impose new sanctions." Budrys' comments come following the EU's of the 17th package of sanctions against Russia on May 20, primarily targeting its shadow fleet of oil tankers. Budrys further called on the EU to target Russia's energy, liquid natural gas (LNG), oil, and nuclear fuel exports as well as financial institutions. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said on May 19 on X that the next package of restrictions is "already in motion." President Volodymyr Zelensky echoed similar points in his evening address on May 20, stating that the next sanctions package "is already being prepared." Zelensky further called for the EU to to apply additional sanctions on "Russian oil, the tanker fleet, all their energy infrastructure that finances the war, all their banks, all financial schemes, and Russia's military industry." "A new European sanctions package — the 17th — is already in place. This is a step in the right direction, and there should be as many sanctioning steps as necessary for Russia to become interested in peace and to feel the full price of its aggression and desire to prolong the war," Zelensky said. Ukraine's European allies are tightening sanctions against Russia as Moscow refuses to cease fire. Despite Russia's refusal, no new U.S. sanctions have been imposed so far, with Trump saying that implementing sanctions "could also make it much worse," following the phone call with Putin. Several media outlets reported on May 20 on European leaders' frustrations the lack of U.S. sanctions against Russia, with a senior European official telling the New York Times (NYT) that Trump "never seemed invested in joining sanctions on Russia," the publication wrote. NYT further reported, citing a White House official, that Trump refuses to impose sanctions on Russia as it may hinder future business and trade opportunities with Moscow. Read also: Trump refusing to adopt sanctions against Russia as it would affect business opportunities with Moscow, NYT reports We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
