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Russia Complains About Lithuania's Arms Supplies To Ukraine


Russia says it has formally complained to Lithuania that the Baltic country's supply of weapons to Ukraine violated its international arms trade commitments.

The Russian Embassy in Vilnius said on February 27 that the complaint was sent in a letter from the Russian Foreign Ministry to the Lithuanian Embassy in Moscow.

It said such supplies "represent a direct violation of Lithuania's legal commitments in the area of export of armaments."

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius denied his country had violated any agreements.

Lithuania has supplied weapons to Ukraine "in small quantities and openly," Linkevicius told Reuters.

He added that: "and yet we are reprimanded by the country that continually supplies arms to the conflict in Ukraine, in nonsymbolic quantities, and denies doing so."

Russia has been accused by NATO, Ukraine, the United States and numerous Western countries of supplying the pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine with weapons and even troops, charges that Moscow denies.

Based on reporting by Reuters and Interfax

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