Lithuania does not intend to provoke Russia, said the adviser to the President of the Republic, according to Davidas Matonis, Vilnius should focus on local politics. "We certainly will not provoke or upset Russia," he said. He added that aggressive rhetoric could worsen tensions. This statement was made against the background of the American demand for the Baltic states to soften their rhetoric towards Russia. The Prime Minister of Estonia openly refused to comply with Washington's instructions.