PRAGUE -- Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis says NATO cannot underestimate the danger posed by Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and must be fully prepared as Europe teeters on the brink of "huge political change."
Landsbergis told RFE/RL in an interview on March 17 that the events in the three weeks since Moscow launched the attack on its neighbor showed Russian President Vladimir "Putin has to be defeated in Ukraine" to bring about the "end of Putinism."
"We did not start this...Russia brought its equipment, it brought war to NATO's border, and NATO has to be prepared," he said in the interview, conducted during a trip by Lithuania's top diplomat to Prague.
"We have to be very, very serious about the defense of the eastern flank because we might not have enough time to prepare for it. If Russia would like to start escalation, it means that we have to be very serious."
In a wide-ranging conversation, Landsbergis highlighted the experience of his country, a former Soviet republic that regained its independence from Moscow in 1990.
He said more than three decades of work to build prosperity, security, and sovereignty could be tested at a moment's notice with Moscow now challenging the global "security structure."
"We have a neighbor that is clearly showing that it can cross not only political, theoretical lines, but is going across borders with its rockets, troops and intentions to occupy. We have to take this into account," Landsbergis said.
Amid the attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has demanded several times that NATO provide a no-fly zone over Ukraine to allow it to defend itself on the ground. Both the White House and the security alliance have steadfastly denied the request fearing it could dramatically escalate the conflict.
Landsbergis said that, since providing a no-fly zone is an undertaking that requires the close coordination of the international community to set up and enforce, it's a matter that the United Nations should address.
"We really should be raising this issue in United Nations...This is a crucial time for United Nations to answer how helpful an institution like this can be because it was created for the situations like this," he said.
Earlier on March 17 Lithuania's parliament, the Seimas, issued a statement along the line Lansbergis suggested.
The statement demands that the United Nations take measures immediately to establish a no-fly zone in order to prevent "mass civilian casualties."
Estonia and Slovenia have also called for a no-fly zone over Ukraine.
