Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has arrived in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, on a tour of Baltic States, ERR reports. The topics of discussion will be security, EU and NATO integration, cooperation on electronic warfare and drones, and coordinating European support for Ukraine. Zelensky expressed gratitude for the “uncompromising support” for Ukraine that the Baltic States…
Sweden will deploy an army battalion of 800 troops to Latvia in early 2025, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced, LSM reports. The mechanised battalion, which may include Leopard tanks, will be part of the Canadian-led NATO enhanced Forward Presence battle group based in Latvia. Sweden is due to join NATO soon. In July 2023,…
More than every tenth person in Latvia is lonely, according to a Norstat poll for LSM. The survey showed that 13% of residents feel lonely throughout the year, while 25% feel lonelier during autumn and winter. As many as 20% of young people aged 18-29 years feel lonely regardless of the season and 32% during…
The EU should ban the import and transit of grain from Russia and Belarus, Latvia’s Transport Minister Kaspars Briskens stated, LSM reports. He urged the Baltic States to adopt a joint position on the issue, whereas Latvia’s state-owned rail operator, LDz Cargo, insisted on the need for a common EU stance. When Estonia’s state-owned rail…
Passenger rail service from Estonia’s second-largest city, Tartu, to the Latvian capital, Riga, could begin in the second half of 2025, according to Estonian passenger rail operator Elron, LETA reports. Latvia’s passenger train operator, Pasazieru Vilciens (Vivi), has proposed opening a rail link from Riga to Tartu in spring 2025. Latvia’s Transport Minister, Kaspars Briskens,…
The share of renewable sources in total energy consumption in the Baltic States was highest in Latvia in 2022, LSM reports. Eurostat data showed that 43.3% of Latvia’s gross final energy consumption came from renewable sources in 2022, which was up from 42.1% in 2021. Estonia came in second with 38.5% (37.4%), followed by Lithuania…
All 43 Latvian municipalities are mandated to establish local police units as of 1 January 2024, according to recent legal amendments, LSM reports. Seven municipalities, including Rezekne and Ventspils, failed to establish their own police units by the deadline, however. Some municipalities have opted to merge with neighbouring areas. Financial concerns delayed municipal compliance, as…
Half of Latvia’s population think that adopting the euro in 2014 was a good idea, according to a Norstat poll for LSM. The survey showed that 51% of Latvian residents believe that switching to the EU’s official currency was a good decision. Younger individuals were more likely to support the euro, while the more elderly…
Latvia’s State Security Service (VDD) has detained a Russian citizen on suspicion of espionage, LSM reported. VDD searched five premises in and around Riga and confiscated a large volume of media and documents. VDD found that the person had collected and transferred information regarding critical infrastructure and military objects in Latvia for Russian intelligence. In…