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Lithuania foreign minister calls for concerted effort to support Ukraine: ‘It’s about the future’

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The House on Friday passed a $1.2 trillion defense spending bill for 2024 that included some desperately needed aid to Ukraine, though the severely reduced price tag and the lengthy wait times have allies like Lithuania increasingly «concerned» about whether the U.S. can still be counted on as a reliable partner. 

Russia’s war in Ukraine has dragged on in the former Soviet nation for more than two years, and while the American appetite to continue supporting Kyiv has somewhat diminished, European allies, particularly nations that share complex histories with Moscow, remain as determined as ever.   

«We’re definitely concerned because Ukraine’s ability to hold the front very much depends on how much ammunition and equipment they’re getting,» Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis told Fox News Digital. «It’s not just about now. It’s not just about the current situation on the front. It’s also about the future.

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Putin-Victory

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at a concert marking his victory in a presidential election and the 10-year anniversary of Crimea’s annexation by Russia on Red Square in Moscow March 18, 2024.  (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

ESTONIA’S PRIME MINISTER CALLS ON US AND NATO ALLIES TO BE TOUGHER ON RUSSIA

«If [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is allowed to go forward, where does he stop?» he continued. «We see a huge, aggressive, bloodthirsty empire that now feels emboldened and, in turn, emboldens other dictators across the globe.

«They see that this is their opportunity, this is their time, this is their chance. This is a really scary time to be witnessing.»

Lithuanian FM at UN Security Council in New York.

Gabrielius Landsbergis, minister for foreign affairs of Lithuania, attends a meeting on maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine at U.N. headquarters in New York Feb. 23, 2024. (Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The issue of continued defensive aid for Ukraine has begun to reveal definite fissures in the Republican Party, where there is both heavy support for Ukraine and ardent opposition to Washington’s continued support for Kyiv. 

The opposing positions within the party has stalled a $60 billion aid package for Ukraine that passed in the Senate in February by a 70-29 vote but has yet to be brought to the House floor by Republican Speaker Mike Johnson.

Mike Johnson walking in the Capitol

House Speaker Mike Johnson Feb. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Supporters of the aid package, including Republicans and Democrats, argue it is in the best interest of the U.S. to stop Putin in Ukraine, and many remain concerned his ambitions stretch to other former Soviet nations.

«We need to be serious about this,» Landsbergis said, pointing out that Putin has criticized the collapse of the Soviet Union as Russia’s greatest failure. «You know when he’s saying things, he’s thinking things and when he’s thinking he’s probably planning.

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«I don’t see him stopping unless he’s stopped in Ukraine.» 

Gabrielius Landsbergis

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis (Thierry Monasse/Getty Images)

RUSSIA LAUNCHES ‘LARGE-SCALE’ ATTACK ON UKRAINE’S ENERGY SECTOR, CAUSING AT LEAST 3 DEATHS, WIDESPREAD OUTAGES

Putin has repeatedly threatened nations that were formerly in the Soviet Union. When asked if Lithuania, which was the first to declare independence from the USSR in 1990 and shares a border with the Kaliningrad Oblast, was concerned given its complex history with Russia, the foreign minister pointed to the oppression it endured. 

«We usually call ourselves never Soviets, rather than former Soviets. Because, you know, we were subjugated and forced,» Landsbergis said. «I think in his mind he is recreating an empire. The only question is, which empire? Some would say the Soviet Union, but I would even say that he’s recreating the 19th century Russian Empire.»

Despite his concern, the Lithuanian foreign minister said «there’s still time to turn this around.»

Ukraine Troops Russia

Ukrainian soldiers pose during the Russia-Ukraine war on the front line of Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine March 29, 2023. (Muhammed Enes Yildirim/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

UKRAINIAN REFUGEES, WOUNDED SOLDIERS HOPE FOR US AID AS FUNDING REMAINS STALLED

Several NATO nations, including France, Poland, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, in recent weeks have begun looking at sending their own troops into Ukraine in advisory and training roles, not as combat troops.

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The push has not gained broad NATO support from nations like the U.S. or Germany, and therefore would be done on an independent basis rather than through the alliance. 

«We have to be creative. We have to think out of the box, because the goals have not changed,» the foreign minister said, noting that severe sanctions have not stopped Russia, and Putin has not been deterred by Western aid.

«We need to start thinking about things out of the box and not exclude options, which we’ve been doing. In the past, we would usually exclude [options]. You know, we cannot do this, we cannot do that, this is not an option, and so on, so forth,» he explained. «This is a huge change.

Ukraine victories over Russia

A Ukrainian flag waves in a residential area heavily damaged in the village of Dolyna in Donetsk, Ukraine, after the withdrawal of Russian troops September 24. (Metin Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

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«The situation is difficult. I think that we are at a crossroads, and this year could be pivotal. We will be remembered whether we managed to push back or we fail,» the foreign minister said.

Landsbergis said that being hopeful is no longer enough.

«We need to do more. We need to push.»

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The Lithuanian foreign minister will meet with Secretary of State Antony Blinken Monday to discuss continued support for Ukraine and how the U.S. intends to keep working with its Baltic partners in the face of Russian aggression. 

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INTERNACIONAL

Colapsó un puente en Brasil y hay al menos un muerto: un concejal filmó el momento del derrumbe

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Con un teléfono celular en su mano izquierda, utilizándolo como micrófono, y mirando hacia la cámara que era sostenida por otra persona, un concejal de Brasil filmaba un video con el fin de denunciar el deterioro de un puente ubicado el norte del país. Lo que no esperó ni él ni nadie de los que por allí circulaban es que en ese preciso momento la estructura colapsara, causando al menos un muerto y la desaparición de dos personas.

Según informó el Departamento Nacional de Infraestructura del Transport, se trata específicamente del tramo central del puente Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira, de 533 metros de longitud, que conecta las ciudades de Estreito (estado de Maranhão) y Aguiarnópolis (Tocantins), en el norte del país.

“Lamentamos las víctimas del colapso del puente. Hasta el momento tenemos una muerte confirmada, una víctima rescatada, hospitalizada en Estreito y dos víctimas desaparecidas”, reportó Carlos Brandão, gobernador de Maranhão, en sus redes sociales.

El funcionario indicó también que “sólo con los resultados de las operaciones de buceo” podrían comprobar el número total de personas desaparecidas.

Horas después, Brandão actualizó el estado de situación e informó que esos trabajos se encontraban suspendidos a modo preventivo, tras recibir denuncias de que «uno de los dos camiones que cayeron al río Tocantins transportaba sustancias nocivas para la salud y el medio ambiente”.

En ese marco, pidió a la población “evitar el contacto con el agua”, al tiempo que agradeció al presidente, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, y al ministro de Transporte brasileño, Renan Filho, por su “atención respecto al colapso del puente”. “Mañana (por el lunes) estaremos en el lugar viendo de cerca toda la situación y trabajaremos juntos para superar este triste episodio”, anticipó.

Por su parte, en la medianoche del domingo, la Policía Militar de Tocantins informó oficialmente que la víctima fue una mujer de 25 años residente en Aguiarnópolis y que la persona rescatada fue un hombre de 36 años al que trasladaron al hospital de Streito-MA con una fractura en la pierna.

Además, indicó que 11 adultos y dos niños (3 y 11 años) fueron reportados como desaparecidos. Entre los mayores, la Policía Militar contó a tres mujeres, dos hombres, un taxista y su pasajero, además de dos conductores de camiones que transportan ácido sulfúrico, un conductor de camión de agricultura defensiva y un conductor de camiones.

El testimonio del concejal, en primera persona

Elias Junior, concejal del Municipio de Aguiarnópolis, mostraba este domingo por la tarde unas rajaduras en la tierra, al costado de la BR-226/TO, en un lugar donde comienza la subida del puente. Mientras describía la situación de la estructura, en el video que se viralizó este domingo en redes sociales se escucha una fuerte frenada: era una camioneta, que se había encontrado con una incipiente grieta en el deteriorado asfalto.

La persona que grababa gritó. Intentó alertar al funcionario sobre lo que estaba sucediendo en la ruta. Le señala el lugar, que comenzaba a desmoronarse, y ambos empezaron a corren en sentido contrario al sitio que se estaba desplomando.

Una moto, con un hombre y una mujer a bordo, frenan justo a tiempo. Quedaron a metros de sufrir las consecuencias, al igual que un camión que circulaba en dirección contraria.

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El video que subió a sus redes sociales muestra que Elias Junior bajó corriendo el puente alertando junto a otras personas a los automovilistas que intentaban iniciar la trepada por el puente, y luego se dirigió a toda velocidad hacia el sector inferior de la estructura. Al llegar a la zona cercana al agua, se pudo ver el extenso tramo del camino que se había derrumbado.

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