Lithuanian Finance Minister Kristupas Vaitiekunas admitted the EU’s confidence in Ukraine may be wavering amid a massive $100 million energy corruption scandal. Speaking at the EU Economic and Financial Affairs Council, Vaitiekunas stressed that despite doubts, Ukraine remains the EU’s only option for financial and strategic support. The scandal has led to high-profile resignations and arrests, raising concerns over the reparations loan plan funded by frozen Russian assets, with Belgium voicing legal objections. #lithuania #EU #ukraine #apt
00:00Ukraine it needs funding it needs funding fast in second quarter of next year we are here to make a decision the best decision in our opinion would be reparation loans and we need a decision this year December of course we are ready to discuss all the options but we urge to find the agreement on reparation loans also we would like to thank Commission for the 19 package
00:29of the sanctions against Russia but we would urge them to move forward with 20 package and also include Belarus to treat them equally they are making hybrid attacks against Lithuania they use instrumentalized smuggling against Lithuania and we suffer financial losses reputational losses logistical challenges when we need to close airports we urge to to see them in the same way we see Russia
00:59yes options on the table when it comes to supporting Ukraine financially have you already been briefed on what they entail we're ready to discuss them but but as I mentioned the best option would be reparation loans and we urge to find the agreement on reparation loans
01:14do you think the Commission in Germany went too far too fast without consulting the rest of particularly Belgium and hence we are now here today where we have to discuss alternatives to the reparation loan
01:23not necessarily we see how it goes today
01:27Minister has the recent corruption scandal in Ukraine shaken the EU's confidence when it comes to giving Ukraine financial assistance and the reparations loan?
01:37maybe but what other options do we have?
01:41Ukraine is our only option
01:43and it's fighting not only for its own freedom
01:47and the right to choose the way they live
01:49but also for the freedom of Europe as well
01:51so despite the scandal there are no other options
01:54external intelligence of Russia yesterday they publish statement with threat against Belgium to prevent of adoption decision on reparation law
02:07do you feel some pressure from Russia some threat some kind of these measures and what do you think about this?
02:15we feel the pressure and threat from Russia for 35 years
02:19so is that a
02:22are you saying they finally feel what you feel and you therefore have a lack of sympathy?
02:27no no lack of sympathy but that's that's how Russia how Russia acts and we should be already be used to to the way of of their communication and what they do
02:38I have one bit of a nerd question energy taxation is also on the agenda today
02:43do you have a do you think that this needs a serious political reset are you invested in this at all?
02:50political reset mmm that's a good question it's it's it should be an option we should consider that
02:58minister you mentioned sanctions on Belarus any sanctions in particular that you would like to see imposed
03:05I would would like to see them in the same way we see Russia to treat them equally
03:10since both countries participate in aggression against against Western democracies they act in Ukraine but they act against all Western democracies
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