Lithuania’s incoming new coalition government may try to resume official dialogue with neighbouring Belarus on reopening transport links and trade, The Baltic Sentinel reports. Political analyst Vytautas Bruveris noted that many rural voters of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) and the Lithuanian Union of Farmers and Greens (LVZS), especially in eastern Lithuania, were tired of the sanctions against Russia and Belarus, which have hit small and middle-sized businesses and stopped cheap imports from Belarus.
Earlier, incoming prime minister, LSDP leader Mindaugas Sinkevicius, questioned the impact of the sanctions on Belarus and Russia, BNS reported. However, he stressed that the sanctions policy should only be reviewed in coordination with the EU and the US. Meanwhile, Juras Taminskas, transport minister in the outgoing government, said that any speculation on resuming transit shipments of Belarusian fertilisers was “a waste of breath,” BNS reported. Speaking in an interview with Ziniu Radijas, Taminskas pointed out that EU sanctions on Belarusian fertilisers would remain in force until February 2027.
Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys has insisted that there is currently no basis for reviewing EU sanctions on Belarusian potash fertilisers, arguing that such talk is “a waste of time.” He stressed the need to continue the policy of non-recognition, isolation, and sanctions in relation to the Belarusian regime, while simultaneously strengthening support for the Belarusian democratic opposition and people, BNS reported. He was speaking after a meeting with representatives of the Belarusian opposition, civil society groups, independent media, business, and religious communities in Vilnius.
Meanwhile, the Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, has approved in first reading a bill to terminate an agreement signed with Belarus in 2010 on easier border zone travel, BNS reported. The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry said that scrapping the agreement was in line with Lithuania’s national security interests. The agreement would have allowed residents of border regions to cross the state border using special permits and allow them to stay in the neighbouring country’s border zone for longer than residents of other regions. However, the agreement never came into force as Belarus failed to ratify it.
Also, the parliament is discussing proposed legislation to ban companies with commercial ties to Russia or Belarus from operating at critical infrastructure sites, including airports, in Lithuania, BNS reports. Laurynas Kasciunas, deputy chairman of the parliament’s national security and defence committee, said that allowing such companies to operate at strategic sites in Lithuania was “essentially legitimising” trade ties with Belarus and Russia. Also, the parliament is considering banning foreign artists who have worked in Russia or Belarus from entering Lithuania for up to five years, BNS reported.
In the meantime, the Lithuanian Armed Forces (LGP) has reopened a hotline with Belarus following recent drone incursions into Lithuania, BNS reports. Defence chief Raimundas Vaiksnoras explained that the channel of technical communication helped prevent misunderstandings. He stressed that the channel did not represent regular diplomatic engagement with Belarus. Furthermore, Lithuania has extended restrictions on flights along its border with Belarus until 1 January 2027, BNS reports. All flights within the restriction zone are prohibited unless specifically authorised by the LGP commander.
Earlier, Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry protested to Belarus over ongoing violations of Lithuanian airspace, BNS reported. The ministry pointed to numerous violations of Lithuanian airspace by smuggler balloons and drones in May-June 2026. The incidents have led to repeated restrictions on flights at Vilnius International Airport. Meanwhile, Lithuanian police detained 27 people, including 13 police officers and border guards, suspected of involvement in a large-scale cigarette smuggling operation using weather balloons, BNS reported.