Vygaudas Ušackas

Vygaudas Ušackas (born 16 December 1964 in Skuodas, Lithuanian SSR) is a former Lithuanian diplomat, from September 2013 to October 2017 he served as the European Union's Ambassador to Russia.[1] Prior to that he served as the EU Special Representative for Afghanistan.[2] Prior to heading Lithuania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ušackas was the Ambassador of Lithuania to the United States and Mexico from 2001 through 2006, then Ambassador to the United Kingdom. Founder of Mission Siberia.

Vygaudas Ušackas
Ambassador of the European Union to the Russian Federation
In office
1 September 2013 – 1 October 2017
Preceded byFernando M. Valenzuela
Succeeded byMarkus Ederer
Special Representative of the European Union to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
In office
1 April 2010 – 1 September 2013
Preceded byEttore Francesco Sequi
Succeeded byFranz-Michael Skjold Mellbin
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania
In office
9 December 2008 – 26 January 2010
PresidentDalia Grybauskaitė
Prime MinisterAndrius Kubilius
Preceded byPetras Vaitiekūnas
Succeeded byAudronius Ažubalis
Personal details
Born (1964-12-16) 16 December 1964
Skuodas, Lithuanian SSR, Soviet Union
Political partyHomeland Union

Early life and education

Vygaudas Ušackas was born in 1964 in Skuodas, Lithuania.

In 1982 he finished Skuodas school and enrolled to the Vilnius University, there he received law degree in 1990. Later he continued his studies at the University of Oslo, Norway and the Aarhus University, Denmark, specializing in international politics and trade.

Diplomatic Service

Between 1992 and 1996 he worked as an adviser to Lithuania's mission to NATO and European Community, soon afterwards he assumed post Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Between 2000 and 2001 he was the chief negotiator of Lithuania's accession to the European Union.

After the 2008 election, Andrius Kubilius presented Vygaudas Ušackas as candidate for the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs to President Valdas Adamkus.

On 22 March 2010 he was appointed by Catherine Ashton as the European Union's special envoy for Afghanistan.[3]

As of 1 September 2013 Vygaudas Ušackas serves as Ambassador, Head of the EU Delegation to the Russian Federation.

In 2019, Vygaudas Ušackas announced leaving politics to start a career in business.

Private life

He has two children: Raimundas, who was born in 1991, and Paula, born in 1993. In addition to the Lithuanian language, which is his native language, he is fluent in English, Russian and French. After leaving politics, Vygaudas Ušackas became Member of the Board of Directors at Avia Solutions Group.

References
  1. "European Union - EEAS (European External Action Service) | Internal Organization". eeas.europa.eu. 13 February 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  2. EU names new Afghanistan special envoy. Retrieved on 2010-02-22
  3. Council decision 2010/168/CFSP of 22 March 2010 appointing the European Union Special Representative in Afghanistan, Official Journal of the European Union, L 75, 23 March 2010


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