“Wielding terror as leverage, stalling for time”: Lithuania responds to Putin’s ceasefire stance

He made the statement on his social media page.

"Putin's answer to yet another ceasefire proposal: a swarm of 100 drones raining down on Ukraine overnight. Putin is playing his usual game - wielding terror as leverage and stalling for time to avoid any real path to peace."

Budrys called talks about peace "a farce" as Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities continue. He urged for clear actions: either an unconditional ceasefire by Monday, or the imposition of new, stricter sanctions on Russia.

"The fact that Putin rushed to hold a press conference less than 24 hours after European leaders, backed by the U.S., demanded an unconditional ceasefire tells us everything. This approach works - and we must stick to it," the minister noted. "Now we must follow through. If Russian guns do not go silent by Monday, a new round of sanctions must be enforced - without hesitation."

• In a nighttime address on May 11, Russian leader Vladimir Putin claimed he was ready for direct talks with Ukraine in Turkey next week, but he dismissed the idea of a 30-day truce. In response, U.S. President Donald Trump said he would keep working with both sides and predicted that the coming week would be “great.”