Lithuania threatens Russia: The next EU sanctions package will look like a 'Molotov cocktail'

"Putin is turning the whole world against him and he truly deserves much stricter sanctions than those in place today."

This is what Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said as he asked the European Union to be tougher in its relationship with Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine.

According to him, the next package of EU sanctions against Moscow should resemble a "Molotov cocktail."

" I really hope that our partners in the European Union understand that the 17th package of sanctions was just a warm-up ," the Lithuanian president stressed.

" We need to prepare an 18th package of sanctions so that its impact truly resembles a Molotov cocktail ," he added.

Last week, the EU adopted its 17th package of sanctions against Russia, which target tankers in Russia's shadow fleet, which help Moscow circumvent sanctions hitting Russian oil exports.

An 18th sanctions package under discussion specifically envisages sanctions against Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

"Further sanctions against Russia are being prepared. The longer Russia continues the war, the tougher our response will be," European foreign policy chief Kaia Kalas said last week.

Lithuania has been one of Kiev's most ardent supporters since the beginning of the Russian occupation.

Russia has launched massive air strikes against Ukraine in recent days. The attacks were widely condemned, including by US President Donald Trump, who threatened Russia with new sanctions and accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of being "completely insane."

Naousseda said he agreed with Trump's assessment. " These are strong words and an absolutely appropriate statement, because this has been clear to us for a long time ," Naousseda said. (A2 Televizion)