The victory of Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in regional elections was part of a European trend, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said, BNS reports. He attributed AfD’s success to the coronavirus pandemic, the war in Ukraine, inflation, Russian disinformation, and other factors, and “maybe sometimes a lack of strategic leadership.” Landsbergis noted…
Estonia was “very disappointed” that Mongolia decided to welcome Russian President Vladimir Putin, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said, BNS reports. He reminded that all parties to the Rome Statute are obligated to comply with the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Putin. The fact that the Mongolian government decided to…
Türkiye’s application to join the BRICS group undermines trust in the country, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis stated, BNS reports. He pointed to questions on how to reconcile positions within NATO between countries that support Ukraine and those that are pro-Russian. “All this undermines trust,” he added. Meanwhile, Asta Skaisgiryte, chief foreign policy adviser to…
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna urged Western countries to lift all restrictions on Ukraine’s use of Western weapons in the war with Russia, ERR reports. “Ukraine cannot fight with its hands tied behind its back and yet win this war,” he stated. Also, he called for caution over various “peace initiatives” to end the war,…
Hungary is siding with Russia in the war against Ukraine, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna suggested, ERR reports. Speaking on ETV, Tsahkna said that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had begun “fighting for the opposing team.” The Hungarian position was “far removed” from what the EU had agreed upon, Tsahkna stated. He said that Estonia…
Lithuania’s likely EU commissioner nominee, MEP Andrius Kubilius, named security, defence, or EU enlargement as his possible portfolios on the European Commission (EC), BNS reports. Asta Skaisgiryte, chief foreign policy adviser to President Gitanas Nauseda, also noted that EU enlargement and defence were focus policy areas for Lithuania. Speaking in an interview with Ziniu Radijas,…
A group of six MPs from Estonia are paying a ten-day visit to China, with local accommodation and transportation costs paid for by Beijing, ERR reports. The delegation consists of members of the Estonia-China parliamentary friendship group and is headed by the group’s chairman, Toomas Kivimägi, deputy speaker of the Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu. Kivimägi…
Representatives of the three Baltic States are visiting Ukraine to strengthen cooperation in the health care sector and to study the Ukrainian experience of full-scale war, Ukraine’s Ministry of Health announced. The visit was organised jointly with the WHO office in Ukraine. The Baltic representatives will learn about Ukraine’s preparation and response to Russia’s war…
Ukrainians without temporary protection can now only work in Lithuania if they have a valid residence permit, BNS reports. Previously, Ukrainian nationals with visas were exempt from having to obtain a work permit in Lithuania. The exemption will continue to apply to highly qualified workers. Ukrainian refugees can start working immediately after submitting an application…