Budrys calls meeting with designated prime minister substantive, remains silent on future in office

Acting Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys described his meeting with designated Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius as substantive but declined to say whether he will remain in office, LRT reports.

“We had a substantive conversation, and the designated prime minister will probably comment on everything himself,” Budrys told journalists on Wednesday.

He emphasised that the process of appointing ministers “is proceeding in its own dynamic and order.”

“The conversation is entirely natural as with an acting minister. In any case, I think it is necessary. A lot of things happen even in summer,” Budrys said.

He pledged to continue his work until mid-July, when “a new government will take office and I will no longer be acting.”

According to BNS, the new cabinet is being formed after social democrats ended their coalition with the “aušriečiai” (Freedom Party). Budrys is among the ministers under consideration for replacement. Both social democrats and the “valstiečiai” (Peasant Greens) have criticised him for insufficient activity in renewing diplomatic relations with China. However, President Gitanas Nausėda has expressed satisfaction with the minister’s work.

In mid-June, the leaders of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party, the Democratic Union “For Lithuania,” and the Lithuanian Peasant Greens and Christian Families Union signed a new ruling coalition agreement. This coalition holds 75 seats in the Seimas.

Meanwhile, Remigijus Motuzas, chairman of the Seimas Foreign Affairs Committee, stated that there have been shifts in Lithuania-China relations. He noted that Beijing is now willing to meet with Lithuanian representatives, marking a clear change from 2021, when bilateral relations deteriorated after Lithuania established a Taiwanese representative office.

“The shifts are such that, whereas in 2021, when we established the Taiwanese representation, the Chinese were very angry—they reduced the level of diplomatic representation, ambassadors left, and in 2025 other diplomats also left, refusing any contact or discussions—now, as far as we understand, the Chinese are willing to meet, communicate, and negotiate,” Motuzas told journalists in the Seimas on Wednesday.

He spoke after a closed meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee with the acting foreign minister, who presented the current situation regarding the normalisation of relations with China.

“We emphasised to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs colleagues that we must adhere to the Vienna Convention, international obligations, and not make any political concessions to China, but negotiate on an equal footing,” Motuzas stressed.

Asked whether the meeting discussed Budrys’ future after both the designated prime minister and the president raised the issue of normalising relations with China, Motuzas said the committee did not address the foreign minister’s position.

“Today, we did not specifically discuss K. Budrys or any personnel matters. We listened to the current information about negotiations with China and the normalisation of relations. We were simply informed that the negotiations will continue,” he said.

Budrys, who shared confidential information with the Seimas Foreign Affairs Committee, stated that the issue of bilateral relations between China and Lithuania will depend on the new government.

“Everyone understands that I am an acting minister, working, as I mentioned, only in the nearest days, and plans should already be discussed with those who will take office in the 21st Government,” he told journalists after the committee meeting.

During the meeting, the acting minister outlined the current state of Lithuania-China relations and the changes expected.