Lithuania

Lithuanian border guards to be equipped with heavy weapons

Lithuanian border guards will be equipped with heavy weapons, Interior Minister Agnė Bilotaitė announced. “The Defence Ministry will contribute to equipping border guards with heavy weapons,” Bilotaitė told reporters at…

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Lithuania minister says Western military trainers could go to Ukraine

Lithuania’s foreign minister has raised the prospect of an ad hoc coalition of western countries sending military training personnel into Ukraine backed by ground-based air defence, days after Russia took…

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Lithuanian intelligence warns of provocations ahead of Russia’s Victory Day

Lithuanian intelligence has warned of possible provocations as Russia and some other former Soviet countries are about to celebrate the so-called World War Two Victory Day on May 9. “Recently,…

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Scholz pledges Germany’s steadfast backing for the Baltic states

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says Berlin is firm in its resolve to defend the Baltic states against Russian aggression. His comments came on a visit to Lithuania, where German troops…

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US battalion to stay in Lithuania indefinitely

Lithuanian Defence Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas, who is on a visit to the US, says he has been assured that the American battalion in Lithuania will stay in the country indefinitely,…

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Lithuania predicts Russia can fight on in Ukraine for at least two years

By Andrius Sytas VILNIUS, March 7 (Reuters) - High oil prices, sanctions evasion and state investment are providing Russia with enough resources to fight on in Ukraine at the current…

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No chance Putin will attack NATO says Lithuanian general

As fears grow among European officials about a potential Russian assault on NATO, the commander of Lithuania's armed forces is keeping cool. “This year, next year, the possibility or the…

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Lithuanian and German police break-up criminal group responsible for stealing luxury cars

Close cooperation between Lithuanian and German authorities, together with support from Europol and Eurojust, has led to the dismantling of an international criminal network of car thieves. The Criminal Investigation…

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Lithuania calls for more money for Ukraine in EU budget review

By Jan Strupczewski The European Union should earmark more cash to support Ukraine in its revised long-term budget and top up the funds for EU military mobility, Lithuanian finance minister…

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Lithuania summons Pope’s diplomat over remarks on Russian empire heritage

VILNIUS, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Majority-Catholic EU member Lithuania has summoned the Vatican's top diplomat in the country after Pope Francis told Russian youths to remember they are the heirs…

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Germany ready for permanent brigade presence in NATO member Lithuania

BERLIN, June 26 (Reuters) - Germany is ready to deploy a robust brigade to Lithuania permanently, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Monday. "Precondition (for the deployment) is that…

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Lithuania’s ruling party seeks snap election amid expenses scandal, says government may resign

VILNIUS (Reuters) - Lithuania's ruling Homeland Union party said it will propose a snap parliamentary election and that the government may resign if the assembly turns down the request. The…

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Lithuania passes legislation allowing border guards to turn back migrants

By Andrius Sytas VILNIUS (Reuters) - Lithuania's parliament passed legislation allowing border guards to turn back migrants who cross its frontier illegally, brushing away concerns from human rights organizations. Lithuania,…

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Lithuania offers carve-outs to EU sceptics over Russia nuclear sanctions

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A new Lithuanian bid to push the European Union to impose sanctions on Russia's nuclear energy industry includes proposed exemptions for Hungary and a two-year period to…

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Lithuania bans Russians from purchasing real estate

VILNIUS (Reuters) - Lithuania's parliament decided to ban Russian nationals from purchasing real estate in the Baltic country, citing risks to national security. The ban, which will be in place…

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Russia has enough resources to fight in Ukraine for two years – Lithuanian intelligence

VILNIUS, March 9 (Reuters) - The chief of the Lithuanian military intelligence said Russia has enough resources continue the war in Ukraine for two years. "The resources which Russia has…

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United States says ready to defend Baltic allies

VILNIUS (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the United States was ready to defend the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania if required, and will keep its…

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Lithuania may tax windfall bank profits, boost defence spending

By Andrius Sytas VILNIUS, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Lithuania may introduce a windfall tax on banks if profits continue to soar this year on the back of rising interest rates,…

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Lithuania gas explosion blamed on technical malfunction

A powerful gas pipeline explosion that prompted the evacuation of a village in northern Lithuania was most likely caused by a technical malfunction, the head of the country’s natural gas…

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UPDATED: Lithuania-Latvia gas pipeline blows up, but no sign of attack

By Andrius Sytas VILNIUS, Jan 13 (Reuters) - A gas pipeline connecting Lithuania and Latvia was hit by an explosion on Friday but there was no immediate evidence of an…

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Photo Story: Christmas tree made of solar panels in Trakai, Lithuania

A Christmas tree made of solar panels is erected in Trakai, Lithuania. The Christmas tree from solar panels generates energy and illuminates itself and, after the festive period, will contribute…

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Lithuania calls for more air defences along NATO’s eastern border

VILNIUS, Nov 16 (Reuters) - NATO should swiftly deploy more air defences on the Polish-Ukrainian border and the rest of the alliance's eastern flank, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said on…

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Baltic nations would welcome Ukraine’s accession to NATO

Foreign ministers from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania said they would welcome Ukraine's accession to NATO "as soon as possible" after the country formerly applied to join the alliance on Friday.…

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Lithuania raises army’s readiness level amid Russia’s military mobilisation

VILNIUS (Reuters) - Lithuania raised the readiness level of its army's rapid response force "to prevent any provocations from the Russian side", defence minister Arvydas Anusauskas said after Moscow announced…

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Baltic states and Poland close doors to Russian tourists

NARVA, Estonia, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Four of the five European Union countries bordering Russia began turning away Russian tourists at midnight on Monday, saying they should not travel while…

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While rest of EU mourns, Baltics recall Gorbachev as agent of repression

VILNIUS (Reuters) - Widely praised in the West as a towering statesman who helped end the Cold War, Mikhail Gorbachev was remembered in the Baltic states as a repressive autocrat…

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Lithuania warns Baltic states, Poland and Finland could ban Russian tourists

European Union members Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Finland, which all share a border with Russia, may stop Russian tourists from entering their countries if the EU does not enact…

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‘Those who think Russia is exhausted are too optimistic’: Lithuania’s former chief of defence

The Russian military in Ukraine suffered a severe blow last week in Crimea, sparking enthusiasm that the tide in the war might be turning. Lithuania’s former chief of defence, Lieutenant…

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UPDATED: Kremlin says work still to be done on EU Kaliningrad transit deal

MOSCOW, July 14 (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Thursday there was still work to be done over a European Union ban on the transit of sanctioned goods to the Russian territory…

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Lithuania bans flavoured e-cigarettes

A new law has just come into force in Lithuania where flavoured electronic cigarettes will no longer be available in the country The new ban aims to tackle the rise…

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Polish PM says EU and Russia agree they need a plan for Kaliningrad

The European Union and Russia agree it is necessary to come up with a plan concerning the movement of goods between the Russian mainland and the Kaliningrad exclave, Poland's prime…

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EU nears compromise deal to defuse standoff with Russia over Kaliningrad

VILNIUS/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Trade through Lithuania to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad could return to normal within days, two sources familiar with the matter said, as European officials edge towards a compromise…

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UPDATED: Lithuania: We’re ready if Russia cuts us out of common power grid over Kaliningrad disruptions

VILNIUS, June 22 (Reuters) - Lithuania will be prepared if Russia disconnects it from the regional power grid in retaliation for blocking rail shipments of some Russian goods to Moscow's Kaliningrad exclave,…

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Kaliningrad residents regret Lithuania’s ban on transit to Russian enclave

Kaliningrad region Residents sandwiched between EU and NATO members Poland and Lithuania, expressed fear and regret over Lithuania's transit ban announced on Monday. "Construction works will stop. Development of roads. It's all…

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UPDATED: Russia warns NATO-member Lithuania over Kaliningrad transit

LONDON, June 20 (Reuters) - Russia warned NATO member Lithuania on Monday that unless the transit of goods to Russia's Kaliningrad exclave on the Baltic Sea was swiftly restored then Moscow would…

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Lithuania parliament urges criminal prosecution of Russian leadership

VILNIUS, June 16 (Reuters) - The Lithuanian parliament on Thursday called for the criminal prosecution of Russia's leadership for its invasion of Ukraine and what it said is the wide-scale…

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Lithuania’s president calls for more NATO troops

VILNIUS, April 22 (Reuters) - NATO should increase its deployment of troops in Lithuania and elsewhere on Europe's eastern flank following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Lithuania's president told Germany's foreign…

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Lithuania bans using letter ‘Z’ in protest over Russia’s war in Ukraine

Lithuania's parliament on Tuesday voted to ban public displays of the letter "Z", the black and orange ribbon of St George, and other symbols seen as expressing support for Russia's…

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Lithuania says Russia already has nuclear weapons in the Baltic region

Russia already has nuclear weapons in the Baltic region, Lithuanian Defence Minister Arvydas Anusauskas said. One of Russian President Vladimir Putin's closest allies warned NATO on Thursday that if Sweden…

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UPDATED: Ukraine official denies Zelenskiy rejected visit offer from Germany’s Steinmeier

April 13 (Reuters) - An adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's chief of staff, Serhiy Leshchenko, denied in an interview with CNN that Zelenskiy had rejected a visit offer from German President…

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Lithuania wants NATO to expand Baltic battalions into brigades

Lithuania wants the NATO battalions in the Baltic countries to be expanded into brigades, the country's defence ministry said on Monday. A brigade consists of several battalions of troops. Lithuania…

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Lithuanian MPs want to outlaw Russian military Z symbol

Two Lithuanian MPs have called on the country to ban displays of the Russian military 'Z' symbol following its invasion of Ukraine. Lawmakers are debating amendments to outlaw the black…

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Baltic nations expel ten Russian diplomats

VILNIUS, March 18 (Reuters) - Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania have expelled a total of ten Russian diplomats, the foreign ministries of the three Baltic countries said on Friday. Lithuania expelled four diplomats…

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UK to host Baltic, Nordic leaders to find new ways to isolate Russia

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will host leaders from countries along Russia's northwestern flank to discuss ways they can respond to President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, including finding new…

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Lithuania’s Prime Minister joins paramilitary volunteer force

VILNIUS (Reuters) - Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte was sworn in on Friday as a member of the Riflemen’s Union, a paramilitary volunteer force that supports the police and the…

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UPDATED: Lithuania tightens state of emergency, limits free speech

VILNIUS, March 10 (Reuters) - Lithuania imposed a stricter state of emergency on Thursday in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, limiting rights to free expression and peaceful assembly, in what critics…

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Russia demands that Baltic countries protect its embassies, Canada tells citizens to leave Russia

Moscow demanded that authorities in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania take measures to protect Russia's embassies after a Russian diplomat was attacked in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, the Russian RIA news…

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Lithuania asks International Criminal Court to investigate war crimes in Ukraine

VILNIUS, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Lithuania's government announced on Monday it will ask prosecutors at the International Criminal Court to investigate "war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine". "There is new…

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Poland and Lithuania say Ukraine deserves EU candidate status due to ‘current security challenges’

VILNIUS (Reuters) - Ukraine deserves European Union candidate status, and Poland and Lithuania will support it in this goal, the presidents of the two countries said in a joint declaration…

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German army reinforcements reach Lithuania

RUKLA MILITARY BASE, Lithuania (Reuters) - A German army convoy of 130 soldiers and 60 vehicles reached Lithuania, bringing almost half of planned reinforcements for the country's German-led NATO battlegroup…

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Lithuania warns banks of cyber attacks, power cuts amid fears of war in Ukraine

Feb 16 (Reuters) - Lithuania's central bank has told the country's banks to prepare for power cuts and cyberattacks as Russia's standoff with Ukraine risks spilling over into a military conflict, according…

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German troops arrive to reinforce Baltics amid tensions over Ukraine

Lithuania, Feb 14 (Reuters) - A German military aircraft carrying troop reinforcements landed in Lithuania on Monday, the first of several planned NATO deployments amid fears in the region about…

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Lithuania prepares to take in refugees from Ukraine if needed

Lithuania would be ready to take in people fleeing war in Ukraine if Russia decided to invade its neighbour, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė said this week. “While we do…

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China suspends Lithuanian beef imports as Taiwan row grows

BEIJING, Feb 10 (Reuters) - China has suspended imports of beef from Lithuania since Wednesday, the General Administration of Customs said, amid a growing trade spat with the Baltic nation…

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Lithuania seeks to make U.S. troop deployment permanent

RUKLA, Lithuania, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Lithuania will ask the United States to permanently station troops in the country to help boost security, the Baltic nation's president said on Wednesday.…

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The Netherlands to increase troops in Baltics

RUKLA, LITHUANIA, Feb 9 (Reuters) - The Netherlands will increase the number of its troops in a NATO battlegroup in Lithuania to 350 from 270, Dutch defence minister Kajsa Ollongren…

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Germany discussing sending more troops to Lithuania – defence minister

BERLIN, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Germany is considering deploying additional troops to Lithuania, Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht said, as tensions remained high over Russia's military build-up near Ukraine. In an…

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