The ongoing mobilization in Russia worsens the regional security situation, but the level of military threats to Lithuania does not change, Ķestutis Budris, national security adviser to President Gitanas Nausėdas, said on Monday after the meeting of the Lithuanian National Defense Council.
“We believe the situation in the region is getting worse, but the level of military threats remains the same. We consider it low,” Budris told reporters, adding that Russia is deliberately aggravating the situation.
By mobilizing troops and organizing pseudo-referendums in the occupied Ukrainian territories, Russia is “intentionally escalating the situation and increasing tensions in the region,” he said.
“All actions by Russia are primarily aimed at changing the situation in Ukraine,” said the adviser.
According to him, members of the State Defense Council listened to information provided by officials of the intelligence and internal affairs services about the current situation on the Russian-Belarusian border.
“As you already know, Kaliningrad [apgabalā] and other regions of Russia are very concerned about the announced mobilization, but we do not see this reflected in the efforts to come to Lithuania, “said Budris.
Regarding the ban on Russian defectors from entering Lithuania, the presidential adviser said President Nausėdas’s position has not changed, stating that defectors should not be admitted to Lithuania just because they are avoiding Russian military service.
Asked about the possible transfer of additional weapons to Ukraine, Budris said the matter was not discussed at the meeting on Monday. However, he pointed out that the participants were informed of the support already provided, adding that the responsible authorities are currently examining the possibility of providing further support to Kijiva. “To make a decision, we need more information of a military nature, an impact assessment on Lithuania’s defense capabilities and financial justification,” she said.
“We’ll be back later,” added Budris.
The National Defense Council of Lithuania consists of the President, the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the Parliament, the Defense Minister and the Commander of the Armed Forces. The Council examines and coordinates the most important issues of Lithuanian national defense.
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