"This is not something Lithuania invented, it is a baby we all nurtured and let's try to help it survive. Its health depends on Ukraine. This is indeed true in many cases," Linkevičius said at the International Relations and Political Science Institute of Vilnius University on Thursday.
In his words, Ukraine has "other options" besides the one linked to the EU, e.g., the Eurasian Union, a new focal center in the East proposed by the Russian president.
"This is his (Vladimir Putin's) personal doctrine, it is his personal political objective and ambition. Some say it is propaganda, but I don't think so. (...) The situation now is that Ukraine is faced with several choices," Linkevičius said.
In his words, the EU Eastern Partnership summit scheduled to take place in Vilnius in the end of November will be "the European Union's product in Vilnius."
"Theoretically, either project – the Eurasian and the EU – can be successful even without Ukraine's participation; however, it would definitely be less impressive. This is a certain unwritten battle, and Ukraine's determination and our ability to include it will not only decide the success of the event, which is less important, but also the entire geopolitical game," the minister said.
Vilnius will host the EU Eastern Partnership summit in late November, as Lithuania will hold presidency over the EU Council in the second half of this year. The event is expected to produce the EU-Ukraine association treaty. However, the West demands of Kiev to curb "selective justice," a term used in Europe to define persecution of the opposition.
