Baltic officials were mostly critical of Finnish President Alexander Stubb’s and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre’s phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna insisted that “every contact with Russia must convey Europe’s unity and determination to support Ukraine and maintain pressure on Russia,” ERR reported. He called for increased…
Restoring Lithuania’s full diplomatic relations with communist China should not depend on the name of the Taiwanese Representative Office in Vilnius, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda stated, BNS reports. Speaking in an interview with Ziniu Radijas, Nauseda suggested restoring diplomatic representation on a lower level first, such as deputy heads of mission rather than ambassadors. He…
Estonian President Ülle Madise has appointed Paavo Nõgene as director of the Office of the President, ERR reports. Previously, Nõgene served as secretary general of the Ministry of Culture and CEO of the Estonian shipping company, Tallink. Earlier, Rainer Saks joined Madise’s team as her defence and national security adviser, ERR reported. Saks is a member…
The secretary general of the Estonian Foreign Ministry, Jonatan Vseviov, announced that he would resign and run for parliament in elections due in March 2027, ERR reports. Vseviov will represent the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDE). SDE chairman Lauri Läänemets will propose that Vseviov be nominated as the party’s candidate for prime minister. Läänemets will…
The Chinese embassy in Estonia has sent a diplomatic note to the country’s parliament, the Riigikogu, protesting the participation of Estonian MPs at a reception celebrating Taiwan’s National Day in Tallinn, ERR reports. Altogether eight MPs from various parties attended the event, which was organised by Taiwan’s representative office in Latvia. The Chinese embassy suggested…
Lithuania expects progress on restoring full diplomatic ties with communist China by the end of 2026, Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevicius announced, BNS reported. He explained that the government had prepared an action plan with specific steps and deadlines for restoring diplomatic representation with China. He said that the government was pursuing improved relations without public…
Estonia’s new president, Ülle Madise, made her first working visits in office to neighbouring Latvia and Finland, BNS reported. In her meetings with the Latvian and Finnish presidents, she discussed defence and regional security, energy and transport connections, protection of critical infrastructure, support for Ukraine, Nordic-Baltic cooperation, and transatlantic relations. At a joint press conference…
Baltic leaders criticised the US-Russian agreement on Russian diesel fuel supplies. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that the agreement was a “major miscalculation,” warning that “deals with dictators are a road to hell,” ERR reported. He insisted that Russian revenues must be stopped and urged the EU to help Ukraine “blast Russia’s oil refineries…
Lithuania’s Foreign Minister, Kestutis Budrys, has assured Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevicius that he has no intention to run for president, ELTA reports. Speaking in an interview with 15min, Budrys said that public speculation about his possible presidential bid had made both his work and his life more difficult, casting a shadow on his ministerial actions…
