Lithuania: PM contradicts Foreign Minister on Russia
NATO has the means to destroy air defence and missile bases in Russia’s Kaliningrad region,…
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Welcome to Via Baltica, your “information superhighway” for news from the three Baltic tigers of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania! Our founder and editor-in-chief is Kerkko Paananen, senior news analyst with more than two decades of professional expertise in covering and reporting on current affairs in the Baltic States. We aim to do one thing well:…
Lithuania: PM contradicts Foreign Minister on Russia
NATO has the means to destroy air defence and missile bases in Russia’s Kaliningrad region, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys stated, BNS reported. Speaking in an interview with Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Budrys said that “we must show the Russians that we can penetrate the small fortress they have built in Kaliningrad,” LETA reported. Also, he…
Latvia: Backing for all parties still below 10%: poll
All political groups in Latvia had less than 10% support among voters in April-May 2026, according to a new SKDS poll, LSM reported. The right-wing populist opposition party, Latvia First (LPV), was ahead with 9.3% support, which was up from 8.9% in March 2026. The social-democratic Progressives came in second with 7.8% (6.9%), followed by…
Estonia: Ruling coalition rating at bottom in May 2026
Estonia’s national-conservative opposition party, Fatherland (Isamaa), had 24% support in May 2026, which was down from 23% a month earlier, according to Emor’s latest poll, ERR reports. The Estonian Centre Party (Keskerakond) came in second with 21% (22%), followed by the Social Democratic Party (SDE) with 17% (17%) and the Conservative People’s Party of Estonia…
Baltic: Presidents refute Russian disinformation on drones
The presidents of the Baltic States strongly condemned airspace violations by drones flying in from Russia and Belarus, ERR reported. In a joint statement, the three presidents rejected Russia’s disinformation campaign and threats related to the drone incursions, saying that Russia was trying to undermine Ukraine’s right to defend itself against Russian aggression. They reiterated…
Lithuania: Parties ponder agreement on demography
Lithuanian parties are discussing the possibility of signing a long-term national accord on demographic policy, following a proposal from Mindaugas Sinkevicius, chairman of the ruling Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP), LRT reported. Laurynas Kasciunas, chairman of the opposition Homeland Union, welcomed the proposal, while Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen, leader of the opposition Lithuanian Liberal Movement (LLS),…
Latvia: Auditors reprimand state forest management
Poor management of Latvia’s state forest management company, Latvijas Valsts Mezi (LVM), led to major monetary losses, according to the State Audit Office (LRVK), LSM reported. The audit concluded that LVM’s management and the Ministry of Agriculture had failed to ensure sufficiently effective oversight of the company. The government’s decision to provide support to timber…
Estonia: Fatherland leader most popular candidate for PM: poll
The leader of Estonia’s national-conservative opposition party, Fatherland (Isamaa), Urmas Reinsalu, is the country’s most popular candidate for prime minister, according to a Norstat poll done in May 2026 for the Institute for Societal Research (YI), ERR reports. The survey showed that 27% of respondents would prefer to see Reinsalu as prime minister, followed by…
Baltic: NATO, EU chiefs back Baltics after Russian threats
Leaders of NATO and the EU expressed full support for the Baltic States after Russian threats, ERR reported. Russia accused the Baltic States of allowing Ukrainian drone strikes from their territory, threatening retaliation. NATO secretary general Mark Rutte called the Russian accusations “absolutely ridiculous,” while European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen stated that the…
Lithuania: Macedonia to open embassy in Vilnius
The government of North Macedonia has decided to open an embassy in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, Media Information Agency reports. The embassy will represent Macedonia’s interests across the three Baltic States. The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry welcomed the decision and reaffirmed Lithuania’s support for Macedonia’s EU membership, BNS reported. Lithuania and Macedonia established diplomatic relations in…