Baltic: Leaders condemn Hungarian PM Orban’s visit to Russia

The leaders of the Baltic States condemned Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s visit to Russia for talks with President Vladimir Putin, GNA reports. Outgoing Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, who has been nominated as the EU’s new foreign policy chief, said that Orban was “exploiting the EU presidency position to sow confusion.” Lithuanian President Gitanas…

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Lithuania: Landsbergis would be excellent EU commissioner: PM

Lithuania’s Foreign Minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis, chairman of the ruling Homeland Union, would make an excellent European commissioner, Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte stated, BNS reports. Speaking in an interview with Info TV, Simonyte stopped short of confirming that Landsbergis was among the candidates for the position, noting that negotiations were still ongoing. President Gitanas Nauseda expects…

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Lithuania: President Nauseda slams Orban’s meeting with Putin

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow undermines confidence in Hungary’s EU presidency, BNS reports. Nauseda said that Orban’s “unilateral decision” to visit Moscow does not represent the EU position. “If you truly seek peace, you do not shake hands with a bloody…

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Latvia: Pres. Rinkevics respected across political spectrum: expert

Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics has successfully distanced himself from his former party, New Unity and established his own independent identity, according to political scientist Lelde Metla-Rozentale of Riga Stradins University, LETA reports. While New Unity voters still associate Rinkevics with the party, his work is highly regarded across various voter groups, including those from the…

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Lithuania: Government backs withdrawal from Convention on Cluster Munitions

The Lithuanian government has approved a draft resolution to withdraw from the Convention on Cluster Munitions, allowing to acquire, stockpile, and use these weapons, BNS reports. The proposal from the Defence Ministry follows the US decision to supply cluster munitions to Ukraine and is based on the argument that these munitions are highly effective for…

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Lithuania: President Nauseda backs withdrawal from cluster bomb ban

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda supports Lithuania’s withdrawal from the Convention on Cluster Munitions so as to improve the country’s defence capabilities, BNS reports. The Defence Ministry has proposed the motion to the parliament, the Seimas. The ministry highlighted the need for cluster munitions in Lithuania’s defence strategy, noting that adversaries like Russia and Belarus would…

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Estonia: Tallinn to remove Soviet symbols from buildings

Estonia’s capital, Tallinn, plans to remove Soviet symbols from city-owned buildings by the end of 2024, ERR reports. The Estonian parliament passed corresponding legislation in 2023. However, President Alar Karis has refused to sign the legislation due to “legal ambiguities.” Deputy mayor Madle Lippus notes that changes to protected buildings require approval from the National Heritage…

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