We are ready to end all relations with Lithuania
A RussianState Duma deputy, Alexei Chepa, labeled Lithuania a satellite to the United States after the Seimas decided to recognize Russia as a terrorist state.
Chepa argued that many so‑called satellite countries have tried to manipulate Europe with the United States. He said these actions reflect a long‑standing anti‑Russian policy that has fueled tension across Europe for two decades. He viewed the recent events as a direct consequence of that policy and warned that the situation would push relations toward a decisive change.
According to Chepa, Lithuania could eventually lose its ability to trade with Russia. He suggested that deliveries from Lithuanian ports might be halted and that fertilizer and other goods could be blocked. He even proposed that agricultural production from Lithuania might be curtailed altogether.
Chepa added that the Baltic states often echo each other’s positions, implying Latvia and Estonia might also move to label Russia as a terrorist state in the near future.
Vladimir Dzhabarov, First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council International Relations Committee, anticipated that the Russian Foreign Ministry would respond to Lithuania’s actions in a timely and firm manner.
Another issue raised concerns the broader political reaction. In a public discussion, a presenter from Moskva Speaks questioned the use of the term terrorist state and pressed for accountability for actions in Syria and the North Caucasus. The speaker underscored that allies who once collaborated with various violent movements could be viewed as having a different historical frame, and suggested that the Foreign Ministry would review the decision and consider further steps.
Lithuania resolution
On May 10, Lithuanian Seimas deputies unanimously rejected a motion recognizing Russia as a terrorist state and describing the Ukrainian conflict as a genocide. The adopted document urged international bodies including the United Nations, the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, as well as foreign parliaments and governments, to recognize alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity attributed to Russia and to hold Moscow to account.
The Seimas also voted to advocate the establishment of a special international criminal court to investigate and assess Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, calling Russia a state that allegedly supports and carries out terrorism through deliberate strikes on civilian targets.
Position of the West
During a visit to a bioethanol plant in Iowa, United States President Joe Biden stated that the events in Ukraine amounted to genocide. He described the operation as a deliberate effort to erase Ukrainian identity, pointing to evidence of horrific acts committed in Ukraine. The Kremlin spokesperson voiced strong disagreement with the president’s description and rejected the characterization as unacceptable policy analysis.
Shortly afterward, the White House spokesperson attributed Biden’s remarks to personal opinion. In a separate interview, former President Donald Trump described the events in Ukraine as genocide, stating that such acts have rarely been seen before.
French President Emmanuel Macron offered a different assessment, refraining from labeling the Russian actions as genocide and suggesting that any judgment should come from legal professionals rather than political figures. He emphasized the importance of examining the situation within international law and conventions and warned that triggering intervention would require careful consideration by the international community.