Lavrov accuses Baltic states of being "puppets" of major European powers

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia of lacking political independence, claiming they are being manipulated by leading European countries to act against Russia and its allies.

“The Eurograndees [top European powers such as France, Germany, or other major EU members - ed.], as they call themselves, manipulate Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania to achieve their goals – to constantly weaken the Russian Federation and all its friends and allies, including the Republic of Belarus,” Lavrov said during a press conference following his meeting with Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov, Caliber.Az reports via TASS.

Lavrov alleged that the three Baltic states operate under the influence of more powerful European Union members, adding that "these are not independent politicians, they are puppets."

The Russian foreign minister went on to use a metaphor to describe the Baltic countries’ actions, likening them to "small backyard kids who bully and provoke passers-by, and when they are rebuffed, they immediately hide behind the backs of adult hooligans who lead these little hooligans and set them against normal people."

By Sabina Mammadli