Former Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius has alleged that Russia’s recent shelling of Ukraine was aimed at more than just opposing peace efforts—it was also a calculated attempt to publicly humiliate the United States. The attack, which took place on Thursday night, comes amid ongoing tensions in the war-torn region and has raised concerns about the broader geopolitical implications.
Linkevičius, who served as Lithuania’s foreign minister from 2015 to 2019, suggested that the Russian military action is part of a larger strategy to weaken Western support for Ukraine. He pointed to the timing of the attack, coinciding with ongoing diplomatic talks between Ukraine and its allies, as evidence of Moscow’s intent to disrupt these efforts.
While the United States has refrained from directly criticizing Russia’s actions, the attack has been widely condemned by NATO members and European leaders. Linkevičius’s comments add to the growing body of evidence suggesting that Russia is increasingly using military force to exert pressure on its adversaries in the global arena.