"This decision constitutes a gross violation of the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and international law, the Helsinki Final Act, and the Charter of Paris," the ministry said in a statement.
"After annexing Ukraine's Crimea in 2014, Russia continues to undermine the country's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, as well as its own Budapest Memorandum commitments to Ukraine," it said.
"By occupying the territories of a sovereign state, Russia shuns the implementation of the Minsk Agreements, which it has signed and which stipulate the process of restoring control over the territories to the Ukrainian government".
"Eight years of Russian aggression against Ukraine, including this last decision, as well as Russia's disrespect of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, pose a threat not only to the European security architecture but also to international peace and security."
The ministry also said the recent escalation of the security situation "proves the need to reinforce deterrence along NATO's eastern flank".
"Russia's aggression against Ukraine must receive a strong response from the international community, including coordinated restrictive measures by the European Union, the US and other like-minded partners targeting specific economic sectors of the Russian Federation, as well as responsible persons and entities," it said.
Lithuanian leaders have denounced Russian President Vladimir Putin's recognition of the separatist-held areas in eastern Ukraine as a flagrant violation of international law.