Nauseda: Sanctions Against Russia Should Be Like A Molotov Cocktail

• 8.06.2025, 13:22

The package should include all energy companies that fill the state budget.

EU leaders, by failing to impose tough sanctions against Russia as promised, have undermined trust in Europe.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said this, Bild informs.

"This is a problem. And it affects not only the credibility of our sanctions, but the credibility of all our measures against Russia and our support for Ukraine. We have announced many times that we will support Ukraine and supply fighter jets, long-range missiles and ammunition. But we cannot fulfill these promises," Nauseda told Bild.

He said the sanctions that have already been imposed against Russia since February 2022 have not had the effect the West had hoped for. Firstly, the sanctions were not decisive enough, and secondly, third countries are helping Russia circumvent them.

"That is why the Russian economy, although not in the best condition, is still functioning relatively well under these circumstances," the Lithuanian leader explained.

The EU is now preparing its 18th package of sanctions against Russia, and Lithuania is demanding that it be like a "Molotov cocktail." As Nauseda said, this means that the package should include all energy companies that supply money to the Russian state budget: Nord Stream, Rosatom, Gazprom, Lukoil.

"The remaining Russian banks should also be excluded from the SWIFT system, like the rest of the ships of the shadow fleet. Otherwise, we will be considered weak and believe that Europe is unwilling to take bold decisions," he emphasized.