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Russian actions threaten ‘stability and security’

Ukraine “has all the potential to defend its country," but does not have "enough time and resources currently to arm itself”, and that is where Nato needs to step in, Lithuania’s Foreign Minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis, has said.

Some 100,000 Russian troops are currently near Ukraine’s border. Russia denies it is planning to invade.

Many Nato countries have sent weapons to Ukraine and Lithuania has pledged to do the same.

When challenged by 91ȱ Hardtalk’s Stephen Sackur that Nato’s actions spell a new level of threat to Russia, Mr Landsbergis said: “allowing people and making sure they will be able to defend their own country is not a threat to anybody”.

Instead, he blamed Russia’s actions for ramping up tensions.

“What is already threatening is Russian troops that are already on Belarussian and Lithuanian border. What I think is threatening is they occupied Crimea… these things have been threatening the stability and security for a very long time”.

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