Analysis
Russia's annexation of Crimea and military intervention in Eastern Ukraine in 2014 were widely condemned by European leaders as a direct challenge to European security. Grybauskaitė, then President of Lithuania, echoed the prevailing view that these actions demanded a unified European response. The statement aligns with historical records and official EU positions from that period.
Background
In 2014, Russia's annexation of Crimea and support for separatists in Eastern Ukraine triggered a crisis in EU-Russia relations. The EU imposed sanctions and reassessed its defense and energy policies, viewing the actions as a threat to regional stability. Grybauskaitė, a vocal critic of Russian aggression, frequently emphasized the need for European solidarity.
Verdict summary
Dalia Grybauskaitė's statement accurately reflects the geopolitical consensus on Russia's 2014 actions in Ukraine.