Lithuania's incumbent president declares victory in runoff vote
Lithuania's incumbent President Gitanas Nauseda on May 26 declared a landslide victory in the presidential runoff vote, securing his second term in office.
Baltics
Baltics, Poland, other countries agree to create 'drone wall'
"This is a completely new thing —a drone border from Norway to Poland, the purpose of which would be to protect our border with the help of drones and other technologies," said Lithuanian Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite.
Estonian authorities say Russian border guard removed river border markers from Estonian territory
Eerik Purgel, head of the PPA's Eastern Prefecture, said that Estonian and Russian authorities install the buoys that separate the territories on a yearly basis in order to ease navigation on the river and prevent fishermen and others from accidentally straying across the border.
Baltic countries to push for 2.5% of GDP defense spending minimum during NATO summit
The defense ministers of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia met in the Lithuanian town of Palanga on May 22 and agreed on their key goals ahead of the upcoming NATO summit, including an allied commitment to invest at least 2.5% of GDP in defense.
Russia deletes draft decree to change Baltic Sea maritime border
A draft decree suggesting changing Russia's border in the Baltic Sea was deleted from the Russian government website on May 22 after swift condemnation from some NATO members.
Russia wants to unilaterally change maritime border with Lithuania, Finland in Baltic Sea
Lithuania and Finland have not yet reacted to Russia's decision toward the maritime border, nor has Russia's unilateral decision been recognized internationally.
Russia adds more politicians from Baltics, Poland to its list of wanted persons
President Volodymyr Zelensky was also added to the list earlier in May, but the entry was subsequently taken down.
US military battalion to remain in Lithuania indefinitely
The American military battalion stationed in Lithuania will remain in the country indefinitely, not just until 2025 as previously planned, Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas said on May 2.
Estonia begins to close border crossing with Russia for night
Estonia started to regularly close the Narva-1 border crossing with Russia between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. local time, the Estonian public broadcaster ERR reported on May 1.
Lithuania's PM, president in favor of helping Ukraine bring back military-aged men
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda and Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte supported the idea that Vilnius should help Ukraine bring back its military-aged men living abroad, but after consultations with the EU and Kyiv, LRT reported on April 29.
Lithuania’s FM: Russian GPS jamming of commercial flights 'too dangerous to ignore'
Baltic foreign ministers have warned that the suspected Russian jamming of GPS systems aboard commercial flights is "too dangerous to ignore." This comes after it was revealed that two Finnish aircraft were forced to turn around mid-journey in recent days.
Lithuania ridicules Belarusian claim of thwarted drone attack
Major Gintautas Ciunis, a representative of the Strategic Communications Department of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, promptly denied the unsupported allegations soon after.
Latvian schools to stop teaching Russian as foreign language
Children in Latvia will no longer learn Russian as a foreign language in schools from 2026, but instead will be required to learn a language of the European Union or the European Economic Area, Latvia's Education Ministry announced on April 23.
Media: Latvia to end courses of Russian as 2nd foreign language in schools
English serves as the first foreign language Latvian schoolchildren learn, and in theory, a number of other languages are offered as the second. In reality, Russian continues to be taught as the second foreign language in more than half of Latvian schools.
Lithuania to allocate 400,000 euros to provide metal detectors in Ukrainian schools
The Lithuanian government will allocate 400,000 euros ($425,900) for the provision of metal detectors in Ukrainian schools and the rehabilitation of Ukrainian soldiers, Ukraine's Interior Ministry announced on April 14.
Ukraine, Latvia sign long-term security agreement
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and his Latvian counterpart, Edgars Rinkevics, signed a long-term bilateral security agreement, Zelensky announced on April 11 while visiting Lithuania for an international summit.
Zelensky arrives in Lithuania for Three Seas Summit
President Volodymyr Zelensky on April 11 arrived in Lithuania to take part in the Three Seas Summit and hold talks with the leaders of the partner countries.
Minister: Nordic, Baltic nations call on NATO to increase support for Ukraine
The Nordic and Baltic countries support an increased role for NATO in aiding Ukraine’s fight against Russia, as well as Kyiv’s bid to join the European Union, Sweden’s Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom told reporters on April 10, according to Reuters.
Zelensky meets Lithuanian defense minister in Kyiv
President Volodymyr Zelensky held a meeting with recently-appointed Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas in Kyiv, the Presidential Office said on April 10.
Media: Molotov cocktails thrown at Russian Embassy in Lithuania
A spokesperson for the Lithuanian police said that two separate attacks had occurred, first on April 7 and then again on April 8. Both reportedly happened in the early morning.
Lithuania to purchase 3,000 drones for Ukraine
Lithuania will purchase 3,000 Lithuanian drones for Kyiv and allocate 15 million euros (around $16 million) to rehabilitation programs for wounded Ukrainian soldiers, Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on April 5 during his visit to Vilnius.
Shmyhal visits Lithuania, meets Lithuanian PM
Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal arrived in Lithuania and met his Lithuanian counterpart, Ingrida Simonyte, Shmyhal said on April 5.
Ukraine, Lithuania hold meeting on bilateral security agreement
Ukrainian and Lithuanian officials held a meeting on April 4, during which they decided on the key points and a schedule for the preparation of a bilateral security agreement, Ukraine's Presidential Office said.
Shmyhal meets Latvia's president, lawmakers during Riga trip
Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal held a meeting with Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics during the former's visit to Riga on April 4.
Shmyhal arrives in Latvia, meets Latvian PM
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal arrived in Latvia and met with his Latvian counterpart, Evika Silina, Shmyhal said on his Telegram channel on April 4.
Poll: More than half of Lithuanians opposed to any kind of military deployment to Ukraine
According to the poll, only 15% of respondents were in favor of sending troops to Ukraine, but on the condition that other Western allies do so as well.
Belarus begins military drills near borders with EU, Ukraine
The exercises, which the defense ministry said were intended to simulate defense scenarios in the case of martial law being implemented, will be held in the western Hrodno Oblast and the southern Homel Oblast, north of the Ukrainian border.
Estonia's ruling Reform Party introduces legislation to ban non-citizens from voting
The proposal would only impact local elections.
Zelensky meets Estonian parliament speaker in Kyiv
"We discussed further assistance for Ukraine from Estonia and other partners and the progress in the preparation of a bilateral security agreement," President Volodymyr Zelensky said, according to his Telegram channel.
US Congress approves $228 million in military aid for Baltic countries
"Support from the U.S. has significantly helped Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania fast-track several military infrastructure and capability development projects," Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said in a statement.
Estonia expels Russian Embassy employee
Foreign Minister Margus Tsakhna said, "With its actions, the Russian Embassy has interfered in the internal matters of Estonia in an unacceptable way."
Latvia may deport hundreds of Russian nationals
Eight hundred Russian citizens are at risk of being deported from Latvia because they have not yet applied for permanent or temporary residence.
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