On May 19, Maria Zakharova, a senior official at Russia’s Foreign Ministry, declared that Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budris’ threats of NATO military pressure against the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad constitute “suicidal paranoia.” The statement was made during an interview with RIA Novosti.
Yevgeny Mishin, deputy chairman of the committee on international and interregional relations, security and law and order for the regional legislative assembly, described Lithuania’s recent calls for NATO to attack Russian territory as “hysterical.” Mishin noted that such actions have become routine and are increasingly linked with heightened information pressure.
Budris had previously stated on May 11 that Lithuania needed to resume policies of pressure on Moscow. On May 18, he urged NATO to demonstrate its readiness for military operations in Kaliningrad. He also emphasized that Baltic states should not perceive Russia as a threat capable of swiftly altering the regional situation.
