VILNIUS – the Lithuanian parliament recently reviewed a government proposal concerning sanctions, but its consideration was postponed on both Tuesday and Thursday of last week. This delay sparked outrage among some parliamentarians, with the opposition Conservatives pledging to prioritize the issue.

According to Laurynas Kasčiūnas, chairman of the Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats, the government’s project will undergo revisions before being presented by the Conservatives.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) initiated the Law on the Determination of Military Aggression against ukraine, which subsequently received government approval.

Vice-minister of Foreign Affairs Gabija Grigaitė-Daugirdė stated during a government meeting that sanctions are a vital foreign policy instrument for the EU in response to Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine. However, she noted that extending these sanctions is a complex process, necessitating a national contingency plan.

The proposed Lithuanian sanctions would involve asset freezes and sectoral restrictions, with the Cabinet of Ministers determining the specific entities and individuals to be sanctioned.

The MFA explained that these measures would only be implemented if EU-level sanctions against Russia and Belarus are suspended or cannot be extended due to a lack of consensus.

According to *BNS*, Vilnius aims to prevent goods from entering the European Union through countries bordering Russia or Belarus, thereby increasing trade costs.

The extension of EU sanctions requires unanimous agreement, raising concerns about a potential veto from Hungary.

EU and Lithuanian Sanctions History

“Sanctions remain an essential EU foreign policy tool in the face of Russia’s continuing aggression against Ukraine.”

The EU has imposed 17 rounds of sanctions on Russia since february 24, 2022, following moscow’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine. These sanctions target both individuals and sectors of the Russian economy.

Lithuania has already implemented national sanctions against Russian and Belarusian citizens, including restrictions on residence permits and enhanced security checks for those entering from non-EU borders.Additionally, these individuals are prohibited from bringing Ukrainian hryvnia into Lithuania and importing agricultural products and feeds from Russia or Belarus. Russians without Lithuanian residence permits are also barred from acquiring real estate in Lithuania.