it’s good that Europe has a small country with big “eggs”
Alfa.lt has reached out to Ukrainian and Russian opposition observers to comment on what the situation looks like from their perspective.
Aider Muzhdabayev (Ukrainian journalist, head of Crimean Tatar TV): “I will ask simply: Lithuania needs that railway branch from Belarus to Kaliningrad?”
If not, tear the hell out of it! Collect the Sagittarian Union talc and dismantle it. Why do you have to suffer this in your own land?
Lithuania would benefit more if sheep or goats graze on the site of this branch.
You can scrap rails and create sleepers in power plants. And let the European Commission go to hell.
Align yourself not with her, but with the United Kingdom.
Russia took the Black Sea from Ukraine. After all, Europe did not take the Baltic Sea from Russia. Here, let them sail or fly, whatever they need in Kaliningrad.
Lithuania has absolutely no obligation to provide Russia with any services.”
Lithuania would benefit more if sheep or goats graze on the site of this branch.
Eugen Magda (Ukrainian historian, columnist): “First of all, Lithuania implemented the EU sanctions package.
On the other hand, I understand why Germany “pushed” a different interpretation of the EC.
In addition to economic reasons, there are also historical reasons – the Germans are very sensitive to all issues related to the East Prussians.
No German policy will dare to make a decision that could be accused of revanchism.
What really surprised me in this situation is that official Kyiv did not express support for Lithuania in any way. Lithuania supports Ukraine with specific actions, and this time Kyiv did not organize a ministerial telephone conversation with Vilnius.
I have heard that the latest decision of the EC is related to the negotiations on the export of Ukrainian grain. Africans who did not receive this grain could invade France, Greece, Italy and other European countries.
Lithuania knows what the Soviets and Russia are, so the position of Vilnius is completely understandable to me. The relations between Ukraine and Lithuania are very good, our countries understand each other very well.
This is probably due to both the shared history and the fact that we have absolutely no disagreements that hinder the relationship.
I think that Lithuanians understand the occupiers’ hatred and envy of “well-off” Ukrainians, even though we are one of the poorest countries in Europe. I would like Western Europeans to realize this as well. Realize that the occupiers in Butia and Irpiny killed people not even because they were Ukrainians, but out of animalistic hatred. Europe must realize that Russia will not stop after destroying Ukraine.”
What really surprised me in this situation is that official Kyiv did not express support for Lithuania in any way.
Viktor Tregubov (Ukrainian politician, military officer): “We in Ukraine are happy that Lithuania is such a state in the EU, and we wonder how such a small country can have such big “eggs”. And at the same time, it is disappointing to us that things are very clearly visible to the old EU states.
After all, they have the greatest economic power and levers of influence.
Unfortunately, they have the most dismissive view of Russian aggression, which should be responsible.
Let it be difficult for them to empathize with distant Ukraine, but they must realize that Russia poses a threat to all of Europe.
Dissidents who fled Russia are being killed in Germany, but its politics refuse to see it.
This is a completely infantile approach.
Ukraine and Lithuania are clear examples that Russia can be stopped and resisted, but Western Europeans often do not want to see these examples, do not want to follow them.
If someone accuses Lithuania of “hysterics”, I would say that, as usual, other countries behave inadequately, underestimating the threats. They don’t understand the psychology of the aggressor and can mistakenly think that they can come to an agreement with him, when in fact he is only appeasing himself by retorting.”
We in Ukraine are happy that Lithuania is such a state in the EU, and we wonder how such a small country can have such big “eggs”.
Dmitry Savin (Russian opposition figure, historian and publicist): “I got the impression that the EC decision on transit has become an informal agreement accompanying the negotiations on Ukrainian grain, without which there is a real risk of famine in the countries of the Middle East and Africa.
Russia has always tried to portray the Baltic countries as inadequate Russophobes, but in fact their attitude towards Russia is completely justified. It would seem that other European countries should also realize that Russia cannot be trusted.
Is Lithuania taking decisive action?
Well, thank God! Someone in the EU has to do it. What German bureaucrat may not understand the connection between resistance to Russia and European security. It’s good that Lithuania understands this.
Even in comparison with other Baltic countries, the political elite of Lithuania is more active, with a more global mindset. it is necessary because only Lithuania has deep roots of statehood.
Lithuania had a powerful anti-Soviet resistance and even the strongest local communist party, best to stop mass colonization from the East.
So, it is not surprising that Lithuania is the locomotive of anti-Russian policy and Lithuania is not afraid to use the instruments provided by the EU and NATO.
similarly, sometimes something is annoying, but it is necessary. I liked Lithuania’s position towards Taiwan, and I also like the opposition to Russia.
your critics are somewhat right, saying that Lithuania does not always thoroughly analyze the long-term results and is in a hurry to act, but it is very much that they are really wrong.”
Is Lithuania taking decisive action? Well, thank God! Someone in the EU has to do it.
Vladimir Ratnikov (Russian opposition activist): “By restricting transit, Lithuania acted completely legally as a sovereign state defending its interests.
Vilnius shows that it does not intend to make concessions to Moscow, because it considers concessions exclusively as a manifestation of weakness. Germany and France, as we can see, decided to follow the path of concession.
Criticism that the Government of Lithuania does not coordinate its actions with other members of the community is not at all deserved.
We are talking about cargoes that travel specifically through the territory of Lithuania – a sovereign state – and their control is primarily a question of Lithuania’s self-determination.
So I would say that in this case the EU should dictate to Vilnius how to manage in their own country.