LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

IN THIS ISSUE:

1. Upcoming events in Lithuania for Friday, May 30, 2025
2. Lithuania turns away 8 irregular migrants on border with Belarus
3. Lithuania hands over probe into US troops' deaths to American authorities – defense chief
4. Lithuanian PM to discuss defense, infrastructure with Latvian, Estonian counterparts
5. EU's Kubilius to meet Lithuanian president, defense industry leaders, visit training area 
6. Strike at Helsinki airport unlikely to affect Finnair flights to Vilnius – operator
7. Lithuanian PM hopes cooperation with South Korea will grow into strategic partnership
8. Ukraine, Russia stuck in pseudo-negotiations, very little is actually happening – advisor
9. Vilnius mulls commemorative plaque with Merz's quote on Lithuania's security
10. EBRD Vice President Matteo Patrone to visit Lithuania
11. Alternatives to EU funding for Rail Baltica being sought – Lithuanian PM 
12. Lithuanian PM in Riga urges tougher sanctions on Russia, path for Ukraine into NATO, EU
13. Lithuanian foreign minister invites Spain to contribute to rotational air defense model
14. Lithuanian FM expects no tangible results from upcoming Russia, Ukraine talks
15. It's not for Russia to decide who joins NATO – Lithuanian FM
16. Lithuanian PM continues to deny involvement in co-owned companies' management, operation

Upcoming events in Lithuania for Friday, May 30, 2025

VILNIUS, May 30, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Friday, May 30, 2025:

PRESIDENT Gitanas Nauseda to meet with Woo Won-shik, the speaker of the National Assembly of South Korea, at 1 p.m.; to meet with European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius at2 p.m.

PRIME MINISTER Gintautas Paluckas to attend a working session on regional security and defense at the Latvian National Museum of History at 10.30 a.m.; to attend a working session on regional infrastructure projects at 1.45 a.m.; to hold a joint press conference with the Latvian and Estonian prime ministers at 1 p.m.; to attend a working lunch at the invitation of the Latvian prime ministers at 1.45 p.m.

DEFENSE MINISTER Dovile Sakaliene to pay a visit to Singapore.

Defence Vice Minister Tomas Godliauskas, European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius and high-level representatives of the Baltic and Polish defense ministries and militaries to visit the counter-mobility park at the Rudninkai military training area, at 5.15 p.m., followed by a press conference at 5.30 p.m.

FOREIGN MINISTER Kestutis Budrys is on a visit to Spain.

EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER FOR DEFENSE AND SPACE Andrius Kubilius to attend a discussion on the EU's White Paper on defense at the Geopolitics and Security Studies Center at 9.15 a.m.; to give a speech on innovation in Europe's defense sector at LOGIN 2025 at 11 a.m.

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Lithuania turns away 8 irregular migrants on border with Belarus

VILNIUS, May 30, BNS – Lithuanian border guards have turned away eight migrants attempting to cross into the country from Belarus illegally over the past 24 hours, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) said on Friday morning.

Latvia reported 81 illegal border crossing attempts on Thursday. Poland denied entry to 172 irregular migrants on Wednesday, according to the latest available information.

Lithuania has barred almost 800 irregular migrants from entering from Belarus at non-designated places so far this year, after turning away 1,002 in 2024

The influx of irregular migrants into the EU's eastern member states from Belarus began in 2021 and is blamed by the West on the Minsk regime.

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Lithuania hands over probe into US troops' deaths to American authorities – defense chief

VILNIUS, May 30, BNS – Lithuania has handed over the investigation into the deaths of US soldiers at the Pabrade military training area to American authorities, Chief of Defense Raimundas Vaiksnoras said.

"The investigation has been turned over to the Americans; it falls under their jurisdiction," Vaiksnoras told BNS in an interview.

"We did everything within our scope. Autopsies confirmed the cause of death was drowning, so there would be no confusion later. After that, we passed the investigation into the circumstances of the incident to the Americans. I can't say anything about what happens next, because I honestly don't know," the general said. 

"If the Americans want to make the information public, they can do so. If they choose not to, they won't – we have no influence over that," he added.

The four US soldiers went missing at the training area in eastern Lithuania on March 25 while operating an M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle.

The search and rescue operation lasted a week and involved Lithuanian, US, Polish and Estonian military personnel, as well as police and civilians.

The vehicle was pulled from a swamp on March 31 with the bodies of three soldiers inside. The fourth drowned soldier was found the next day.

After the recovery, prosecutors announced they had launched a pre-trial investigation into the soldiers' deaths.

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Lithuanian PM to discuss defense, infrastructure with Latvian, Estonian counterparts

VILNIUS, May 30, BNS – Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas will meet with his Latvian and Estonian counterparts, Evika Silina and Kristen Michal, in Riga on Friday to discuss regional security, defense and the implementation of joint infrastructure projects.

The meeting will take place in the format of the Baltic Council of Ministers, according to the Lithuanian government.

Latvia holds the council's rotating presidency this year.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Baltic states have been stepping up efforts to boost defense spending.

Lithuania plans to allocate an additional 12-13 billion euros for defense by 2030, which would raise its military spending to between 5 and 6 percent of GDP.

Silina has said Latvia's defense budget could reach 4 percent of GDP this year, while Michal has said Estonia will raise its defense spending to at least 5 percent of GDP next year.

The three countries are jointly developing the Baltic Defense Line, a system of counter-mobility measures along NATO's eastern flank to reinforce the Alliance's borders with Russia and Belarus.

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EU's Kubilius to meet Lithuanian president, defense industry leaders, visit training area 

VILNIUS, May 30, BNS – European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius is visiting Lithuania on Friday to meet with President Gitanas Nauseda and members of the space technology cluster.

As part of his official program, the commissioner will visit the Rudninkai military training area and the companies Kongsberg NanoAvionics and RSI Europe, according to the European Commission Representation in Lithuania. 

Discussions will focus on the White Paper on the future of European defense, strengthening the defense industry's capabilities through soft loans under the 150-billion-euro SAFE defense loan facility approved on Tuesday, and streamlining defense industry regulations.

Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas has said that Lithuania wants to borrow up to 7 billion euros under SAFE.

Kubilius has said that Vilnius will be able to borrow "substantial sums" on favorable terms through the facility.

The commissioner is also scheduled to visit the engineering equipment park at the Rudninkai military training area and meet with Baltic and Polish officials to discuss the defense of the EU's eastern border, the Baltic Defense Line and Eastern Shield initiatives, as well as the bloc's financial instruments available for their implementation.

As part of his visit to Lithuania, Kubilius will also deliver a speech at the innovation conference LOGIN 2025 and take part in a discussion on the White Paper for European Defense – Readiness 2030, hosted by the Center for Geopolitical and Security Studies. 

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Strike at Helsinki airport unlikely to affect Finnair flights to Vilnius – operator

VILNIUS, May 30, BNS – Finnair's cancellation of more than 100 flights on Friday is unlikely to affect services between Vilnius and Helsinki, according to Lietuvos Oro Uostai (Lithuanian Airports, LTOU).

"All flights scheduled for today between Vilnius and Helsinki are expected to operate as planned. We have no information about any cancellations," LTOU spokesman Tadas Vasiliauskas told BNS.

According to the Vilnius Airport flight schedule, a Finnair plane from Helsinki landed at 9 a.m., with three more arrivals expected at 1 p.m., 5:40 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.

Departures from Vilnius to Helsinki are scheduled for 9:45 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 6:10 p.m. and 9:40 p.m.

Finnair announced earlier this week that it would cancel around 110 flights on May 30 due to a planned strike by workers at Helsinki Airport, amid an ongoing pay dispute with the IAU aviation workers' union. The airline said the walkout could disrupt travel plans for around 8,000 passengers.

Further strikes are planned for next Monday and Wednesday.

A four-day strike at Helsinki Airport earlier this month forced Finnair to cancel around 410 flights, affecting some 39,500 passengers.

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Lithuanian PM hopes cooperation with South Korea will grow into strategic partnership

VILNIUS, May 30, BNS – After discussing bilateral cooperation with South Korean National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik in Vilnius on Thursday, Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas expressed hope that the relationship between the two countries will develop into a strategic partnership.

The meeting highlighted the "dynamic" growth of economic relations between the two countries and their willingness to further strengthen cooperation in bilateral trade, financial and information technologies, defense and other areas, the government said in a press release.

"The Republic of Korea is a very important partner for us in the Indo-Pacific region. We are ready to develop dialogue between our countries and deepen cooperation, especially in defense, security, economic and trade," the prime minister was quoted as saying in the press release.

"I believe this cooperation will grow into a strategic partnership between our countries," he added.

Paluckas and Woo Won-shik noted during the meeting that Lithuania's embassy in Korea and the Korean embassy in Vilnius will help deepen collaboration across all fields and further solidify nearly 35 years of diplomatic relations.

Both sides said they expect to boost people-to-people ties and promote academic exchanges, which will, in turn, support a lasting partnership, according to the press release.

The officials also welcomed the growing popularity of South Korean culture and language among young Lithuanians and noted that Lithuanian culture is gaining recognition in Korea. Recently, a concert celebrating the 150th anniversary of Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis was held in Korea, featuring his music.

"The discussion also touched on the similar historical challenges and the resilience of our peoples, which have helped nurture democratic values. Woo Won-shik thanked Lithuanians for the inspiration his country drew from events that demonstrated national unity, such as the Baltic Way," the government said.

This marks the third visit by a speaker of the South Korean parliament to Lithuania since the two countries established diplomatic relations. Previous visits took place in 2011 and 2019.

The Lithuanian parliament has a group for interparliamentary relations with the Republic of Korea. South Korea also has a parliamentary friendship group with Lithuania.

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Ukraine, Russia stuck in pseudo-negotiations, very little is actually happening – advisor

VILNIUS, May 30, BNS – There's very little real action between Russia and Ukraine when it comes to peace negotiations despite a large number of related reports ahead of possible second direct talks between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul next week, Asta Skaisgiryte, an adviser to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, says.

"They (the talks - BNS) are at a pseudo-negotiation point, if I may say so. There is a lot of talking, a lot of reports, but there is very little real action. What we have seen so far is a meeting in Istanbul, the result of which is very modest, an exchange of prisoners", the foreign policy advisor told the public radio LRT on Friday.

On Wednesday, Russia proposed to hold a new round of talks with Ukraine in Istanbul next week, on Monday, to present its plan for a peace deal, but Kyiv said he needed to see the proposal in advance if the meeting was to produce results.

The first direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in three years took place in Istanbul on May 16 when Moscow and Kyiv agreed on swapping 1,000 Russian prisoners for 1,000 Ukrainians.

"Prisoner exchanges took place before the Istanbul meeting, on more than one occasion. Well, maybe the number of prisoners this time is higher than before, but it is, well, if I may say so, a common practice. No other negotiating momentum was achieved in Istanbul," Skaisgiryte pointed out.

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Vilnius mulls commemorative plaque with Merz's quote on Lithuania's security

VILNIUS, May 30, BNS – Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas is proposing to install a commemorative plaque in the capital featuring a quote from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Lithuania's security.

In his speech at the inauguration of the German brigade in Vilnius earlier in May, Merz said, "Lithuania's security is also our security. The protection of Vilnius is the protection of Berlin." 

"These words by the German chancellor will go down in the history of Lithuania and Europe. They highlight unity, responsibility and solidarity based on values. They will always remind us and our allies that freedom and security are a shared commitment and that Lithuania has reliable allies," Benkunskas said in a press release on Friday.

"In these geopolitically turbulent times, Germany's decision to relocate a brigade to Lithuania for a permanent presence is of enormous significance and deserves an additional mark in the city's memory," he added.

The mayor suggests that the plaque could be installed in the area of Vokieciu Street (German Street), possibly on the wall of the Town Hall facing the street, though the exact location is still up for discussion.

The Vilnius Commission on Historical Memory will consider the proposal.

According to the municipality, Vilnius already has a precedent for honoring statements of support from allied leaders: a plaque unveiled on the Town Hall in 2002 features a quote from the then-US President George W. Bush: "Anyone who would choose Lithuania as an enemy has also made an enemy of the United States."

The municipality also noted that Vokieciu Street is set to undergo upgrades in the coming years under a 5.88-million-euro contract signed with the company KRS earlier this month.

The work is scheduled to begin in mid-summer, with upgrades including new paving and improved public spaces. The project will be carried out in stages, starting at the intersection of Vokieciu and Dominikonu streets, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

Vilnius and Berlin have been actively cooperating in defense since 2017, when Germany took the lead of NATO's multinational battalion stationed in Lithuania. 

Earlier this month, Germany officially inaugurated its 45th Armored Brigade Lithuania. Around 5,000 German troops are expected to be deployed in Lithuania by 2027.

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EBRD Vice President Matteo Patrone to visit Lithuania

VILNIUS, May 30, BNS - Matteo Patrone, vice president, banking at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, will visit Lithuania and the other Baltic countries next week.

This will be his first visit to the Baltic states in his capacity, the EBRD said on Friday.

According to Patrone, the EBRD is ready to continue investing here, supporting the region's energy security and private sector growth.

Patrone is scheduled to meet with Finance Minister Rimantas Sadzius and representatives of the private sector in Vilnius on Monday. With representatives of the Vilnius authorities, e will discuss how the EBRD can further support the city's development.

Lateron, Patrone will visit Riga and Tallinn.

In late March, Sadzius said that although the EBRD's specific mandate does not allow it to contribute directly to the financing of defense projects, the bank's investment in the private sector is a major contributor to the country's resilience, green transformation and energy independence.

At the time, Sadzius met with EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso and members of the bank's board of directors and he urged the EBRD to identify specific areas for increasing investment in its 2027-2031 strategy for Lithuania, and expressed his expectation that the bank would continue to help the country develop its capital market and attract private investment, and invest in infrastructure projects.

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Alternatives to EU funding for Rail Baltica being sought – Lithuanian PM 

VILNIUS, May 30, BNS – Alternative sources of funding are being sought for Rail Baltica in case the European Union fails to provide sufficient support for the multi-billion-euro European standard-gauge railway project, whose costs have soared, Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas said in Riga on Friday.

"We are looking for alternative financial resources in case the funding from the EU is not sufficient in the next (2028-2034) financial perspective," he told reporters after meeting with his Latvian and Estonian counterparts.

The Baltic prime ministers discussed the progress of Rail Baltica just days after their transport ministers agreed to jointly negotiate long-term EU funding beyond 2027, when the current EU budget cycle ends.

Paluckas said the European-gauge railway is important for both regional connectivity and military mobility, so the countries "must demonstrate a strong political will and practical commitment to completing the Rail Baltica project by 2030." 

"Negotiating funding under the coming multiannual financial framework will require effort and political will, but we'll do our best together to get the necessary financing," he said.

The Lithuanian prime minister has previously said the entire project currently faces a funding shortfall of around 11 billion euros.

Lithuanian Transport Minister Eugenijus Sabutis has said that borrowing is being considered for the project, with a guarantee that the loan would be repaid from future EU funds.

The full Rail Baltica project, aimed at connecting the Baltic states with the rest of Europe, is scheduled for completion in 2030, with the Lithuanian and Polish railway tracks expected to be linked in 2028.

Editor: Roma Pakėnienė

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Lithuanian PM in Riga urges tougher sanctions on Russia, path for Ukraine into NATO, EU

VILNIUS, May 30, BNS – Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas, who is taking part in Friday's meeting of the Baltic Council of Ministers in Riga, called for tougher sanctions on Russia and a clear path for Ukraine toward NATO and European Union membership.

"We agree that efforts to strengthen Ukraine's negotiating position must be stepped up. Ukraine needs solid and long-term security guarantees, including NATO and EU membership, and continued enhancement of its military capabilities," Paluckas said.

"We must uphold and expand sanctions against Russia, including the shadow fleet, and its accomplice, Belarus. Further isolate Russia internationally and demand accountability, including the confiscation of all Russia's frozen assets," he added. 

Paluckas said the shared goal of the Baltic states is to help Ukraine win the war and secure a just, lasting and sustainable peace, something that requires comprehensive support for Kyiv.

Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silinia said that all three Baltic countries are spending at least 2.25 percent of their GDP "to help Ukraine militarily."

"We'll continue to do so in future as well," she said. 

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal stressed that the EU's 18th package of sanctions against Russia "must hit where it hurts: energy, finance and the shadow fleet." 

As the Kremlin's war in Ukraine continues, the EU adopted its 17th sanctions package against Moscow a week ago. However, some member states are already pushing for an 18th round.

Lithuania wants the new package to target companies involved in energy, natural gas and oil, as well as financial institutions.

Ukraine applied to join NATO in September 2022, a few months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion. It has yet to receive a formal invitation, as the Alliance's 32 member states have struggled to reach consensus.

Last year, all 27 EU members gave Kyiv the green light to open accession talks, but the process has stalled because Hungary is blocking it, demanding guarantees for the rights of Ukraine's Hungarian-speaking minority.

By Paulius Perminas

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Lithuanian foreign minister invites Spain to contribute to rotational air defense model

VILNIUS, May 30, BNS - Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys has invited Spain to contribute to the rotational air defense model in the Baltic states.

"Spain's participation in the NATO Air Policing mission in Lithuania is a clear sign of allied solidarity and a strong message of deterrence to our enemies. We invite Spain to contribute to the implementation of the rotational air defense model in the Baltic states, which is a necessary step towards taking NATO's frontline security to a new level," Lithuania's top diplomat, currently in Madrid, was quoted as saying in a statement released by the ministry on Friday.

Agreed at the NATO summit in Vilnius in 2023, the rotational air defense model aims to rotate allied air defense weapons in the Baltic states on a virtually permanent basis. So far, two countries have contributed to this model in Lithuania. The Netherlands sent Patriot long-range air defense systems to the country in July 2024 and Italy deployed SAMP/T long-range ground-based air defense systems for a training exercise in February this year.

During their meeting, Budrys and his Spanish counterpart Jose Manuel Albares also discussed bilateral cooperation, ways to strengthen European security and defense and support to Ukraine, as well as preparations for the forthcoming NATO summit in The Hague.

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Lithuanian FM expects no tangible results from upcoming Russia, Ukraine talks

VILNIUS, May 30, BNS – Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys says it is unlikely that the second direct talks between Ukraine and Russia will produce some tangible results.

"It will depend on the intention and the mood of the Russian delegation. If it’s the same as during the last time, then we know how it all ended and that there was no real desire to negotiate, which is why there were no tangible results in terms of a ceasefire," Lithuania's top diplomat, currently in Madrid, said on Friday. "It is very likely that this will be the case this time as well."

Any ceasefire should be imposed "unconditionally and immediately", Budrys said.

"Only during a ceasefire can normal, negotiated talks on ending the aggression take place, and the involvement of both the United States and Europe in such talks must be ensured," the minister said.

"Results must be defined. If not, (...) a package of sanctions must be prepared and implemented as only that will lead to that result, because what we are seeing now is only imitation. Will Monday change this assessment that it is not imitation? Probably not, which is why the Ukrainians need even more support," he said.

As BNS reported earlier, Turkey proposed a trilateral meeting of the US, Russian and Ukrainian president to end Moscow's large-scale invasion of Ukraine, launched more than three years ago.

On Wednesday, Russia proposed to hold a new round of talks with Ukraine in Istanbul next week, on Monday, to present its plan for a peace deal, but Kyiv said he needed to see the proposal in advance if the meeting was to produce results.

By Vilmantas Venckūnas

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It's not for Russia to decide who joins NATO – Lithuanian FM

VILNIUS, May 30, BNS - Russia's wish to have NATO pledge it won't admit more Eastern European states to the alliance is an attempt by Moscow to divert attention from peace talks, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys says.

It's for Russia to decide who can become new NATO members, he added.

"NATO expands when NATO decides to accept new members, there are conditions for that, all countries that fall within the Euro-Atlantic defense area may want to become members of NATO in accordance with the Washington Treaty and it is not for Russia to decide here who should and who should not be a member," Budrys, currently in Madrid, said on Friday.

"This is another attempts to divert attention from the substance, and a ceasefire is the substance, and it needs to be agreed on, and we support American efforts to get Russia to stop its aggression immediately and to come to the negotiating table under the terms of the ceasefire," he said.

Moscow's statements are about stalling and trying to avoid "all the bad consequences", Budrys said.

"The main question for the Russians remains the same: do you agree with a ceasefire or not?" Lithuania's top diplomat said.

US President Donald Trump's special envoy Keith Kellogg said in an interview with ABC News on Thursday that NATO's eastward expansion was an understandable concern for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

As one of the conditions for ending the large-scale war against Ukraine, Putin wants a written pledge from NATO not to accept any more Eastern European members, which would mean that the alliance would not be able to accept Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova and other countries in the future, Reuters reported earlier this week.

Moscow claims that Ukraine's desire to join NATO is one of the main reasons for the Russian invasion.

Russia's aggression towards Ukraine began in 2014 with the annexation of Crimea and the war in the Donbas region, although at the time Kyiv had no real prospects of joining NATO in the near future.

Trump has repeatedly echoed Moscow's narrative that Ukraine's efforts to join NATO were one of the main reasons for the large-scale invasion.

Ukraine applied to join NATO in September 2022, a few months after the start of Russia's large-scale invasion. The country has not received a formal invitation as the 32 NATO member countries are struggling to reach a consensus on the issue.

By Vilmantas Venckūnas

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Lithuanian PM continues to deny involvement in co-owned companies' management, operation

VILNIUS, May 30, BNS – Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas continues to deny his involvement in the operation or management of several companies he co-owns after journalist Andrius Tapinas published information about the possible illegal actions of these.

"I have said numerous times and I can only repeat that I am not involved in the activities or management of these companies in any form, and therefore any questions related to these activities, raising suspicions or doubts, must be referred to the relevant authorities, and these authorities will respond to any doubts or even suspicions of irregularities and arising questions," the prime minister told reporters in Riga on Friday.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, Tapinas said he had correspondence between an unnamed company and representatives of Emus and Garnis, two companies co-owned by Paluckas, proving that the unnamed company had been paid for the goods using the soft loan Garnis received from the national development bank ILTE, but the goods were delivered to Emus, which was initially not eligible for the loan.

The Special Investigation Service told BNS it's assessing the latest information.

Garnis, which plans to start the production of battery systems, received a 200,000-euro soft loan from ILTE when Paluckas was already in office, according to a joint investigation released Wednesday by the investigative journalism center Siena and Laisves TV.

The report states that the loan – the maximum available under the Start program for young small and medium-sized enterprises – was granted in early February.

The prime minister owns 49 percent of Garnis and 51 percent of Emus. The latter would not have been able to qualify for the loan because it has been in business too long. Garnis would also not have been able to obtain such a loan if it was formally part of a group of companies with Emus.

Questions have therefore been raised as to whether Garnis was created as a sham in order to obtain the loan.

Up until now, Paluckas and the executives of the two companies have maintained that they are engaged in different activities and produce different products.

In February and March, Paluckas was involved in government decisions related to ILTE, including submitting amendments to the law governing the bank's operations and setting borrowing limits for central government entities, including the development bank.

The prime minister has asked the Chief Official Ethics Commission to assess the situation, although he maintains he's not in a conflict of public and private interests.

The SIS says it's looking the latest media reports, and ILTE has vowed to carry out an internal audit within a week and has launched an unscheduled inspection into the possible misuse of the loan.

By Vilmantas Venckūnas

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