"Yes, we're convinced that a real war is a likely possibility," Landsbergis told reporters in Brussels upon his arrival to a meeting of EU foreign ministers who will also speak with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
Ministers, among other things, will also discuss potential sanctions for Moscow.
"My position is that crossing the border is already crossing the red line. I mean, it is also politically crossing the border, basically, trying to meddle in another country's political affairs," the foreign minister said, asked whether he also had in mind reports of the organization of a possible coup in Kyiv.
"I think that the Kremlin, not necessarily the people, have accounted for the possibility of sanctions. And we need to be really true to our words when we say that sanctions will be unbearable– they have to be unbearable, and that's the only deterrence. If they are bearable, then it's not a deterrent," Landsbergis said.
"Basically, we have to decide whether we want to deter a war. If not – then we have to use another means, then we have to keep sending ammunition, supplies to defend themselves. This is what the Baltic countries have been doing," Lithuania's top diplomat said.
Asked to comment on Berlin's recent inconsistent position on Russia and the handover of weaponry to Ukraine, Landsbergis pointed out that for the past 16 years Germany has been "a pillar of stability in Europe and around Europe", adding that the existing situation is complicated due to the fact that a new government has just recently started working in Germany.
Nevertheless, Landsbergis said, this situation "is not the situation that they wanted to have for themselves", and he called for partners' patience towards Germany.
"I think that what we are seeing, the conversation that Germany is trying to have on how to react to the current situation – I am patient and I'm calling for patience," Landsbergis said.
Russia now has more than 100,000 troops and military equipment near its border with Ukraine, with the West increasingly concerned that a major military conflict might break out in Europe. Moreover, Russia has recently been moving its troops to Belarus near the EU border for planned joint army drills.
In a bid to de-escalate the situation, Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a meeting last Friday and the US side promised to respond to Russia's security demands in writing this week. Russia demands that NATO does not accept Ukraine and any other post-Soviet republics as members and does not deploy any forces or weaponry in these countries.
As tension continues to rise over Russia's military buildup, NATO allies announced on Monday they are putting forces on standby and sending additional ships and fighter jets to NATO deployments in eastern Europe, reinforcing allied deterrence and defense as Russia continues its military build-up in and around Ukraine.