Lithuania to allocate funds from sanctions fines to rebuild Ukraine

The fines collected for non-compliance with international and national sanctions in Lithuania will be transferred to the Development Cooperation Fund and used to restore Ukraine

LRT reported the information.

It noted that this week, 99 members of Lithuania’s Seimas voted for such an amendment to the law on cooperation and humanitarian assistance, none of them were against or abstained.

According to the adopted amendment, the funds received from fines and confiscated property in case of non-compliance with international or national sanctions will be transferred to the said fund.

The amendment also states that these funds will be used to support the recovery and restoration of Ukraine as a result of Russian aggression. This change will be in effect for a decade, until January 2034.

"Thus, the goal is for Lithuania to jointly contribute to the reconstruction of Ukraine and demonstrate a strong position in supporting Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression," said Deputy Foreign Minister Jovita Neliupšienė.

According to her, Lithuania will take measures on its own, without waiting for the European Union's decisions, to help rebuild Ukraine.

According to the Code of Administrative Offenses, violation of international sanctions or restrictive measures established by Lithuanian laws is punishable by a fine of 200 to 6,000 euros.

"Such a step would demonstrate Lithuania's determination to support Ukraine, which is suffering from Russian aggression, and would contribute to the efforts of the international community to ensure the basic principle that the aggressor must compensate for the damage it has caused," the project's support says.