Diplomats suggest outlawing Russia's GRU over state-sponsored sabotage in Europe
The European Union should designate the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces as a terrorist organisation and tighten sanctions on Moscow. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys raised the proposal at a diplomatic meeting in Luxembourg. This was reported by Ukrinform, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
The head of Lithuanian diplomacy outlined Vilnius’s stance ahead of the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting. He stated that restrictive measures targeting the aggressor state only deliver results when pressure continuously escalates.
The minister criticized Brussels’s decision to remove certain Russian businessmen from the sanctions list, calling it a sign of weakness. According to the diplomat, such moves merely provoked the Kremlin into further escalation both in Ukraine and across other nations.
Exporting Russian destabilisation tactics
The Foreign Minister emphasized that the methods of instigating turmoil tested in Ukraine are now being actively deployed on the European continent. The response must involve systematically expanding economic sanctions and deepening Russia’s isolation.
The Lithuanian diplomat urged special focus on the activities of Russian military intelligence, commonly known as the GRU. He expressed conviction that this entity has operated using terrorist methods for a prolonged period.
Legal consequences for Russian security services
Official Vilnius insists that terrorist status should be assigned directly to the Russian military intelligence agency, as well as to all its officers and affiliates. This measure would help block Kremlin attempts to incite chaos in European capitals.
On September 22, the EU Council extended sanctions against individuals involved in undermining Ukraine’s sovereignty by 36 months, until September 22, 2029. However, businessmen Mikhail Fridman and Alisher Usmanov were removed from the targeted list.
Photo: urm.lt
Read also: Onions, carrots and tomatoes are rising in price: what affects prices in Ukraine in October 2026
