Because of the United States and the United Kingdom , the allies of the Soviet Union were against Nazi Germany during World War II , recognized the occupation of the Republic of Lithuania at Yalta Conference in 1945 '' de facto '' , the governments of the rest of the western democracies did not recognize the seizure of Lithuania by the Soviet Union in 1940 and in 1944 de jure according to the Sumner Welles ' declaration of 23 July 1940 ; Due to the situation , many western countries continue to recognize Lithuania as an independent , sovereign '' de jure '' state subject to international law represented by the legations appointed by the pre-1940 Baltic states which functioned in various places through the Lithuanian Diplomatic Service
Yalta Conference
Yalta Conference
Lithuania–Russia relations