Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis on Friday welcomed the nomination of Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas as the European Union's new foreign policy head.
The appointment meant recognition of the views of the Baltic republics and other countries on NATO's eastern flank, which were taking an uncompromising attitude to Russia, Landsbergis said.
"She has never made a secret of her position. She has expressed herself clearly on values that are very important to us," Landsbergis said in Vilnius, according to the BNS news agency.
EU leaders chose Kallas as the new foreign policy head on Thursday following elections to the European Parliament earlier this month.
The three Baltic republics are among the staunchest backers of Ukraine in fighting off the Russian invasion. Many in the region believe that Russian success in Ukraine could lead to a similar attack on their independence.
The Kremlin responded negatively to the appointment, saying it would exacerbate the already poor relations with the EU.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described Kallas as "well known to [Russia] for her absolutely unacceptable and sometimes extremely Russophobic remarks."
Kallas had also not to date stood out through her diplomatic skills, Peskov said, according to reports by Russian news agencies.