Lithuania: Defence chief stresses need for tanks, drones

Lithuania needs all types of weapons for defence, including tanks and drones, defence chief General Valdemaras Rupsys stated, BNS reports. The Lithuanian Armed Forces (LGP) has to have the capability to counterattack and take over targets, he stressed. This will require mechanised and tank units, Rupsys explained. Earlier, Defence Minister Arvydas Anusauskas announced that Lithuania…

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Lithuania: President snubs Foreign Minister, says “nothing personal”

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said that there was “nothing personal” in his decision not to invite Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis to a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Presidential Palace on 10 January 2024, BNS reports. He said that the meeting focused on military aid and defence industry cooperation, and that Defence Minister…

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Lithuania: President promises Lithuania to be “Ukraine’s voice”

Lithuania’s relationship with Ukraine is growing increasingly sensitive, sincere, and close, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said, BNS reports. Speaking to a large crowd outside the Presidential Palace in Vilnius after a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Nauseda stressed that Ukraine must emerge victorious in the war with Russia because the security of the whole…

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Baltic: Ukraine’s President Zelensky stresses “shared trust” on Baltic tour

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has concluded a two-day official visit to the three Baltic States. At a press conference with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, Zelensky said that his visit underscored the “shared trust” between nations in Russia’s neighbourhood, BNS reported. Speaking to a large crowd outside the Presidential Palace in Vilnius, Zelensky said that Russia…

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Lithuania: Clear rift on foreign policy between President, government

A continuing confrontation between Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nauseda and the government has delayed the appointment of a new ambassador to neighbouring Poland, LRT reports. The post has been vacant since September 2023, with Nauseda rejecting two candidates suggested by the government. The Office of the President has proposed changing the procedure for appointing ambassadors by…

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Lithuania: Court rejects Belarusian activist’s asylum appeal

Lithuania’s Supreme Administrative Court has upheld a lower court decision not to grant asylum to Belarusian activist Volha Karach, BNS reports. Earlier, the Lithuanian Migration Department (LMD) rejected Karach’s asylum application on national security grounds, citing a report from the State Security Department (VSD), which pointed to the applicant’s links to Russian intelligence. Nevertheless, LMD…

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Lithuania: Not enough votes for tighter restrictions on Belarusians

There are not enough votes at the moment in the Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, to tighten restrictions on Belarusian citizens, Laurynas Kasciunas, chairman of the parliament’s national security and defence committee, stated, BNS reports. Under existing legislation, Belarusians face fewer limitations than Russian citizens. President Gitanas Nauseda has demanded equal restrictions on Belarusians and Russians,…

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