Ukraine protected Baltic states in 2014: when Russia planned 'special operation' against Estonia - diplomat

He said this on air for the Espreso channel.

The diplomat commented on a statement made by Russian lawmaker Yevgeny Fedorov proposing to repeal a Soviet-era resolution recognizing Lithuania's independence. The resolution was passed on September 6, 1991, at a meeting of the USSR State Council chaired by Mikhail Gorbachev, which also recognized the independence of Latvia and Estonia.

"As for the impact on Lithuania's independence, such a decision will have zero influence. This was done to destabilise the internal situation in Russia and to shape the idea that Lithuania is hardly an independent country, same as it was with Ukraine, and that it doesn’t have the right to exist and be independent "- the ambassador explained.

Valery Chalyi noted that such promotion of the topic in Lithuania now aims to create maximum consolidation and mobilisation of the society, that there are other enemies than Ukraine.

"There is quite reliable information, and I trust it, that in 2014 the first war attack or special operation was planned against Estonia and further against the Baltic states. Only Yanukovych's escape and weakness led them to make use of the situation in Crimea to their advantage and withdraw from that side. So Ukraine has shielded the Baltic states from that war in 2014. Now Russia is internally bringing this story up again, and as soon as it is voted in the State Duma, there will be a clear signal that they are preparing for war with Lithuania. Which means they are ready to invade Lithuania, which is a NATO country," the diplomat stressed.

Chaly added that this way Russia is trying to shape its vectors of external threats and show that these lines are consolidated and for a while they have been ready to fight, even with NATO countries. If this proposal gets supported in the State Duma, it will have to be understood this way.