Minister of the National Defense of Lithuania Juozas Olekas has called on the EU countries to recognize Russia as an aggressor state, and he also called on NATO to develop deterrent and defense forces.

"For more than a year Ukraine has been a target of aggression, and the country is fighting not only for its freedom and independence, but also for the security of the whole of Europe... I am convinced that we must change the way we interact with the Russian Federation – it should be perceived as an aggressor. Europe must stand united; otherwise the Russian Federation will continue its policy of force," Olekas said in Kyiv on Monday at the opening of the event entitled "The 15th International Week: NATO after the Wales Summit."

"Russia is using its regular armed [forces] units in the territory of a foreign country. NATO should be developing deterrent and defense forces," he said, adding that the annexation of Crimea was "a logical continuation of Russia's imperialist behavior."

Olekas also said that Moscow has been emphasizing its economic power in this context, and he stressed the importance of applying sanctions against Russia.