Analysis
Grybauskaitė's statement aligns with the post-WWII international order, which prohibits the acquisition of territory through military force, as enshrined in the UN Charter (Article 2(4)). Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 was widely condemned by the international community, including the EU and UN, as a violation of this principle. The statement is a factual representation of the legal and diplomatic consensus at the time.
Background
In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea following a controversial referendum deemed illegal by the UN General Assembly (Resolution 68/262). The EU and other Western actors imposed sanctions on Russia, citing the violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Grybauskaitė, then President of Lithuania, was a vocal critic of Russia's actions.
Verdict summary
The statement accurately reflects the principle of territorial integrity and the international norm against annexation by force.