Lithuanian MFA condemns the murder of famous Russian politician and one of the opposition leaders Boris Nemtsov. This brutal crime, which, according to the preliminary data, was well planned and organized, must be immediately investigated, and those responsible brought to justice. Mr. Nemtsov will forever remain in our memory as a sincere friend of Lithuania, and a true patriot of Russia, who relentlessly fought for democratic Russia, for the rights and freedoms of Russian citizens. We express our deep condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Nemtsov and to all the people of Russia.

On February 26 Foreign Affairs Minister Linas Linkevičius met with the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Hon. John Boehner, before finishing his visit to the U.S. They discussed the importance of U.S. leadership in strengthening NATO collective defense measures alongside the eastern borders of the Alliance.

The Republic of Lithuania expresses strong support to Ukraine's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

Russian Federation's military aggression, launched a year ago in the Ukraine’s Autonomous Republic of Crimea and now continuing in eastern Ukraine, is a blatant violation of international law: the UN Charter, the Helsinki Final Act, 1994 Budapest Memorandum and other international agreements, as well as Russian and Ukrainian bilateral agreements. Such targeted military actions not only break bilateral and multilateral agreements on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity assurance, but also pose a threat to the security and stability throughout Europe.

Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemns the unlawful arrest and detention of the Ukrainian Air Force pilot Nadiya Savchenko and other Ukrainian citizens.

On 25 February, in Washington D.C., Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius met with Senator John McCain, Chairman of the US Senate Armed Services Committee, and Andy Lack, Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Broadcasting Board of Governors. Minister participated in the event at the US Congress to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the restoration of Lithuania’s independence. The Minister emphasized the significant role of the US leadership in implementing NATO collective defense measures.

On February 26, Andrius Krivas, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs received General Tom Middendorp, Dutch Army Commander at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss situation in the east of Ukraine, implementation of the decisions of the NATO Summit in Wales, international security issues of bilateral and multilateral cooperation.  Vice-Minister Krivas expressed his appreciation to the Netherlands for their contribution into urgent implementation of the collective security measures. These measures were agreed last year at the NATO Summit in Wales.

On 24 February in Washington, DC, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius met with the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Richard Stengel and participated in a discussion with a community of experts at the National Endowment for Democracy. Participants debated the most effective ways to counter Russia’s informational pressure and to respond to disinformation.

On February 24 in Washington, DC, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius and Chief Advisor for European Affairs to President Charles A. Kupchan discussed immediate response to violations of Minsk Agreements.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius participated in the UN Security Council open debate on Maintaining International Peace and Security:  reflect on history, reaffirm the strong commitment to the purpose and the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

In the margins of the United Nations Security Council’s open debate on 23 February in New York, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius met with Foreign Ministers of the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia and New Zealand. They discussed important issues related to bilateral relations, economic cooperation development and international security issues.