Ukraine and Lithuania collaborated to thwart the candidacy of the Russian Federation within the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

In this year's OPCW Executive Council, three seats were available under the Eastern European quota, contested by Poland, Ukraine, and Russia. At the mutual agreement of Kuleba and Landsbergis, Lithuania also put forth its candidacy.

"During the OPCW voting process, it's uncertain how others will cast their votes. The element of surprise played a role – many opted to support both Lithuania and Ukraine, assuming that Russia would secure enough votes, and we'd be 'on the winning side.' Ultimately, Russia fell short of votes, which came as a surprise to many," revealed a knowledgeable Ukrainian diplomat to EuroPravda.

A day later, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs attributed their defeat in the OPCW to "unprecedented political pressure, financial and economic coercion, and, frequently, direct threats from the 'collective West' to participating states that might have supported our country."