The Lithuanian diplomat cannot say with 100% certainty that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin will not use nuclear weapons.
“On the one hand, I'm surprised that he is going back to this bluff about nuclear weapons, but, on the other hand, I'm not surprised, because when he feels that somebody on the other side is starting to hesitate and express some doubts, he resorts to threats again,” he noted.
Linas Linkevičius is convinced that Ukraine's Western partners should give priority to clear actions over mere talk.
“Sometimes our colleagues say what they are going to do, but that's not very helpful, to say the least. I have already criticized the first statements of NATO leaders when they said that NATO wouldn't engage in the war. I believe it was not very helpful, so maybe we should talk less and do more.”
Although the former Lithuania's Foreign Minister hopes that Putin will not resort to nuclear weapons because of the consequences for Russia itself, different scenarios are possible.
“Russia has crossed these red lines many times. So we have to be prepared for unexpected developments. At the same time, let's focus on what we have to do. And what we have to do now is to provide really consistent long-term support, not only military, but also financial, diplomatic and political,” Linas Linkevičius emphasized.