Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda is visiting Ukraine to attend the fourth annual summit of the Crimea Platform, BNS reports. Speaking at the event, Nauseda demanded that Russia release all illegally imprisoned Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars. He noted that Russia had implemented “brutal colonial policies” in Crimea for the past ten years. Russia’s reign of terror…
Lithuania’s GDP will grow by 2.3% in 2024 and 2.9% in 2025, according to the Finance Ministry’s revised forecast, BNS reports. In June 2024, the ministry projected that the GDP would grow by 2.1% in 2024 and 2.9% in 2025. Average annual inflation will slow down to 1.0% (1.1%) in 2024, before rising to 2.5%…
Most Lithuanians favour US Vice President Kamala Harris in the US presidential elections, according to a Norstat poll for 15min, BNS reports. The survey showed that 66% of Lithuanians favoured Harris, while 12% of respondents preferred former president Donald Trump. Another 22% had no opinion or saw no difference between the two candidates for Lithuania….
Lithuania’s Defence Minister, Laurynas Kasciunas, urged NATO allies to form a coalition to fund Ukraine’s defence industry, BNS reports. Lithuania will allocate EUR 10mn to Ukraine for the acquisition of long-range weapons manufactured in Ukraine. Kasciunas urged other countries to do the same, either by transferring the purchased weapons to the Armed Forces of Ukraine…
Lithuania will have 15,500 professional military personnel and 50,000 soldiers in the active reserve by 2030 under the Defence Ministry’s new plan, BNS reports. Currently, Lithuania has 13,500 professional soldiers in service. Defence Minister Laurynas Kasciunas said that the Lithuanian Armed Forces (LGP) would form a new infrantry division in phases by 2030. The division…
The Lithuanian Migration Department (LMD) denied residence to almost 36,000 foreigners in the first eight months of 2024 after the introduction of tighter rules on immigration, according to the Ministry of Interior, BNS reports. LMD received altogether 67,175 residence permit applications. The number of applications to work in Lithuania from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and…
Symbols supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine have appeared on a number of properties in Lithuania’s port city of Klaipeda, according to local police, BNS reports. The letter Z was painted on three cars, on doors, walls, and windows of several buildings, on billboards, and on a church bell. The display of Russian war symbols is…
Some Lithuanian nationals have joined Russian occupation forces in Ukraine, LRT reports. At least five Lithuanian citizens are known to be fighting for Russia against Ukraine, 15min reports. Defence Minister Laurynas Kasciunas confirmed that there was “definitely more than one” Lithuanian fighting on the Russian side. He said that the persons were known to Lithuania’s…
Lithuanian authorities have developed a plan to protect the country’s cultural heritage in the event of war, BNS reports. The National Crisis Management Centre (NKVC) presented the plan to the culture committee of the Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, in a closed meeting. NKVC director Vilmantas Vitkauskas said that the plan would be tested during a…