Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabrielius Landsbergis expressed deep concerns about the West’s handling of the Russian aggression towards Ukraine, warning against a repetition of historical mistakes. Landsbergis, in a Twitter thread, called for immediate action and emphasized the need to avoid waiting for a “Pearl Harbor effect.”
Landsbergis began by sharing his apprehensions about the West teetering on the edge of repeating historical errors in supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression. He urged swift and decisive measures, cautioning against the dangers of procrastination.
“We could wait for what I have called the “Pearl Harbor effect”, a moment in history when the problems of tomorrow finally become the problems of today, but at an enormously inflated price. Or we could treat this as today’s problem and start solving it today,'” Landsbergis wrote in a tweet.
The Lithuanian Foreign Minister argued that for nearly 25 years, the West has been attempting “to contain Russian imperialism through dialogue and diplomacy,” but Putin’s disregard for borders and the devastation of cities persist. Landsbergis stressed the urgent need to confront the issue head-on.
Reflecting on the events of 2014, Landsbergis highlighted the shortcomings of the Minsk agreements, which temporarily paused Russia’s initial attack against Ukraine but left underlying issues unaddressed, allowing Russia’s aggression to become a recurring problem.
“In 2014, Russia’s first attack against Ukraine was paused by the Minsk agreements, but the underlying issues were left for another day. Russia became tomorrow’s problem,” he explained.
The Minister emphasized that Russia’s imperialist ambitions persist and are not limited to Ukraine, Georgia, or Moldova. Landsbergis underscored the inevitable rise in the human and economic costs if decisive action is delayed.
“The next phase would be directed not just against Ukraine, Georgia, or Moldova but possibly against NATO. The price, human and economic, will only go up,” Landsbergis warned.
Landsbergis urged the international community to treat the issue as a present-day problem and not to wait for a catastrophic event before taking action.
“We are on the verge of repeating historic mistakes. I am convinced that if we won’t defeat Russia now, that means our chosen path is to suffer unimaginable and unnecessary losses before we eventually decide it’s time to step up and win,” he concluded.
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