"We need to clearly tell Russia that it has no right to dictate to NATO partners on how they should behave," Lambrecht told reporters in Rukla on Sunday.

Also attending the press conference, Lithuanian National Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas said one could not allow Russia "to draw new red lines".

"One cannot divide Europe into security spheres, countries cannot be barred from choosing their security orientation," the minister said.

Unacceptable demands

Last Friday, Russia issued a series of security demands to NATO and the United States, stating that the Alliance cannot accept any new members and should not set up any military bases in post-Soviet countries.

The document also calls for the introduction of restrictions on the deployment of missiles and says NATO members should commit to refrain from the block's further expansion.

Addressed to the United States, the draft security treaty also states that Washington should block any post-Soviet countries from joining NATO.

The demands come as Russia demands that NATO renounces its commitment to accept Georgia and Ukraine in the future.

Anusauskas says Russia's demands are aimed at dividing NATO, weakening the Alliance's eastern flank and eliminating the US presence in Europe.

"Such demands are unacceptable if we think about the security of our countries," Anusauskas said.

Lambrecht says representatives of NATO countries will discuss Russia's demands later this week.

Strong commitment

In Rukla, Lambrecht met with German troops serving there within the German-led NATO battalion stationed in Lithuania since 2017. It now has around 1,100 troops, with Germans making half of them.

"It shows Germany's strong commitments for the security of our region," Anusauskas said.

Lambrecht said she specifically chose Lithuania for its first foreign visit to "support our allies and send a message of unity".

"We stand strong on the side of our partners and friends and we will continue with the great cooperation of our armed forces," the German minister said.

She said she perfectly understood the Baltic states' concern over the security situation in the region.

Anusauskas said Russia had deployed forces in its Kaliningrad region, "ten times bigger" than the Rukla-based international battalion.

"In this situation, Russia's demands weakening our country's are just impossible. It’s impossible to implement them and I think they should be rejected," the Lithuanian minister said.

Similar NATO international units have been deployed to deter Russia in other Baltic states and Poland.

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