LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

IN THIS ISSUE:

1. Upcoming events in Lithuania for Wednesday, June 4, 2025
2. Lithuania turns away 19 irregular migrants on border with Belarus
3. Lithuanian defmin heads to Brussels for NATO talks on boosting defense spending
4. Lithuanian volunteer fighter missing in Ukraine, no confirmation of death
5. Lithuanian president backs Latvia after its election to UN Security Council
6. World Lithuanian Writers' Congress kicks off in Vilnius
7. Lithuania, France renew five-year strategic partnership action plan
8. Lithuania's ethics watchdog to launch probe into PM's ILTE loan story
9. Lithuanian Railways to halt Klaipeda-Plunge train service for 4 days in mid-June
10. Maskalioviene assumes position as new defense vice minister in Lithuania
11. Lithuanian govt OKs development of military infrastructure projects in Siauliai, Palanga
12. Lithuanian cabinet clears drone, optical equipment purchases without public tender
13. We must strive for better economic resilience, support for rules-based trade – Budrys
14. Lithuanian cabinet approves recall of ambassadors to US, Spain, Turkey, Egypt 
15. Lithuanian govt backs proposal to allow national economic sanctions on Russia, Belarus
16. Lithuania set to relaunch 2nd offshore wind farm tender on June 9
17. Memorial plaque to two Jewish rescuers to be installed in Vilnius
18. Lithuania's 2nd pillar pension reform would harm its capital market, Brussels warns 
19. Lithuanian parlt commission chair hopes all vaults of Vilnius Cathedral will be explored
20. Upcoming events in Lithuania for Thursday, June 5, 2025

Upcoming events in Lithuania for Wednesday, June 4, 2025

VILNIUS, Jun 04, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Wednesday, June 4, 2025:

PRESIDENT Gitanas Nauseda's interview with Germany's Bild at 1 p.m.

SPEAKER OF THE SEIMAS Saulius Skvernelis to continue his working visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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Lithuania turns away 19 irregular migrants on border with Belarus

VILNIUS, Jun 04, BNS – Lithuanian border guards have turned away 19 migrants attempting to cross into the country from Belarus illegally over the past 24 hours, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) said on Wednesday morning.

Latvia reported 123 illegal border crossing attempts on Tuesday. Poland denied entry to 203 irregular migrants on Monday, according to the latest available information.

Lithuania has barred 837 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.

 Lithuanian border guards have blocked around 23,800 attempts by foreign nationals to cross into the country illegally from Belarus since the start of the migration crisis. 

 

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Lithuanian defmin heads to Brussels for NATO talks on boosting defense spending

VILNIUS, Jun 04, BNS – Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene is heading to Brussels on Wednesday for a two-day visit to attend meetings of NATO defense ministers and the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.

According to the Defense Ministry, the talks will focus primarily on commitments to increase NATO defense spending.

Other key topics will include preparations for the Alliance’s upcoming summit in The Hague, as well as defense and deterrence measures. Ministers are also expected to agree on new NATO capability targets.

Two strategically important declarations are set to be signed on the sidelines of the defense ministers' meeting, the ministry said in a press release.

"The first one is a Joint Declaration on Security in the Baltic Sea which will lay out the countries' commitment to strengthen security in the Baltic Sea through closer NATO-EU cooperation and to conduct a coordinated information exchange and deter hostile activities in the region," it said.

"The second is a Statement of Intent regarding the CV90 combat vehicles which will be an organic part of the formed 1st Division of Lithuania."   

Sakaliene also plans to hold bilateral meetings with her French and Luxembourg counterparts.

Her meeting with the French defense minister is expected to focus on the planned delivery of French-made 155 mm Caesar Mk2 self-propelled howitzers to the Lithuanian Armed Forces in early 2027.

As BNS reported in late April, Lithuania intends to acquire the CV90s jointly with Sweden, Finland and Norway. The State Defense Council decided last October to purchase about 100 of these Swedish tracked armored combat vehicles. 

The joint procurement is expected to total around 1,000 CV90s. Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas said in April that roughly one-third of them are expected to be assembled in Lithuania.

 

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Lithuanian volunteer fighter missing in Ukraine, no confirmation of death

VILNIUS, Jun 04, BNS – A Lithuanian volunteer fighter has gone missing in Ukraine, the LRT news website reported on Tuesday. 

Lithuania's embassy in Ukraine confirmed to the national broadcaster that it had received official notification about the disappearance of the Lithuanian national, who was serving in the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The Foreign Ministry has not received any information confirming the man's death. Consular staff are in contact with his family.

Two Lithuanians have been killed on the front lines since the start of the war in Ukraine.

In March of this year, Tomas Valentelis was reported killed during a combat mission. In February 2024, Tadas Tumas, nicknamed Milzinas (Giant), died while transporting mines to the front lines.

 

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Lithuanian president backs Latvia after its election to UN Security Council

VILNIUS, Jun 04, BNS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda on Wednesday voiced strong support for Latvia after the neighboring country won a seat on the United Nations Security Council.

"Congratulations to President Edgars Rinkevics and the Latvian people on the election to the UN Security Council for 2026-2027!" Nauseda posted on X. 

"A milestone reflecting Latvia's strong commitment to the international rule-based order and UN Charter principles," he added.

Lithuania held a non-permanent seat on the Security Council in 2014 and 2015.

During its term, it focused on resolving the conflict in Ukraine, strengthening the rule of law, protecting civilians in armed conflicts, enhancing UN–EU cooperation, combating illicit arms trafficking and terrorism, and ensuring the safety of journalists.

The UN Security Council is the only body under international law with the authority to authorize the use of military force.

 

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World Lithuanian Writers' Congress kicks off in Vilnius

VILNIUS, Jun 04, BNS – The World Lithuanian Writers' Congress is opening in Vilnius on Wednesday.

Among other issues, Lithuanian writers living abroad will discuss the significance of reissuing Ausra, the first Lithuanian-language monthly.

Around 50 writers are expected to take part in the three-day event.

The program includes creative workshops, public readings, meetings with editors of cultural publications, and discussions on issues relevant to the literary field.

This is the third time the congress has been held.

 

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Lithuania, France renew five-year strategic partnership action plan

VILNIUS, Jun 04, BNS – Lithuania and France have signed a renewed bilateral partnership action plan for 2025-2029, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

The plan was signed in Paris by Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys and his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot.

The document notes that the two countries' positions on key European issues have drawn significantly closer in recent years.

"Together, we condemn Russia's aggression against Ukraine and stand firmly with Ukraine. Lithuania and France have taken steps to strengthen European security and resilience, maintain continuous dialogue on international affairs, and have significantly deepened bilateral cooperation," the ministry quoted the document as saying.

It states that Lithuania and France aim to strengthen bilateral political cooperation, continue supporting Ukraine, improve coordination on key European issues, and deepen cooperation in defense, security, and economic matters.

The plan calls for promoting interparliamentary dialogue, regularly organizing consultations between the Lithuanian and French foreign and defense ministers, and continuing the exchange of experience and positions among the two countries' officials and diplomats on key international issues.

During their meeting, the foreign ministers also discussed the need to strengthen Europe's defense industry and the potential for expanding Lithuania-France cooperation in this area. Budrys invited France to contribute to implementing NATO's rotational air defense model in Lithuania.

Lithuania and France first signed their strategic partnership plan in 2009.

The action plan is updated every five years and reflects the quality, diversity, and growing scope of high-level bilateral relations between Lithuania and France, according to the Foreign Ministry.

 

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Lithuania's ethics watchdog to launch probe into PM's ILTE loan story

VILNIUS, Jun 04, BNS – Lithuania's Chief Official Ethics Commission on Wednesday decided to open an investigation into Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas' actions when the government made decision related to the national development bank ILTE after Garnis, a company co-owned by the prime minister, received a soft loan from ILTE when Paluckas was already prime minister.

"The proposed investigation will focus on the prime minister's actions, his behavior during the government meeting. (...) The decision has been made to open an investigation,” Gediminas Sakalauskas, who chairs the ethics watchdog, said at the meeting today.

He later told reporters that the probe could take up to three months.

"During the investigation, we will try to answer the question whether or not there was any violation of the law," he said, adding that questions will also be sent to the prime minister.

"We will also contact the relevant institutions and check all the circumstances, data and facts. This will also involve ILTE," he said.

The COEC had received three requests to look into the matter and they came from the prime minister himself, Arvydas Anusauskas of the opposition conservative Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats, who chairs the parliamentary Anti-Corruption Commission, and the HU-LCD.

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.

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 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.

In his recent Facebook post, journalist and public figure Andrius 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.

Following media reports about his company, the prime minister asked the Chief Official Ethics Commission to assess the situation, although he maintains he's not in a conflict of public and private interests.

Answering questions from the Liberals in the Seimas on Tuesday, Paluckas reiterated that he's not involved in his companies' operations since 2020 and he also suggested asking the companies' executives for all the details, not him as a shareholder.

He also called the demands for him to take responsibility for the loan granted to his company and to resign "taken out of thin air".

For its part, the Special Investigation Service says it's looking into the latest media repots, 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.

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Lithuanian Railways to halt Klaipeda-Plunge train service for 4 days in mid-June

VILNIUS, Jun 04, BNS – Train services between Klaipeda and Plunge in western Lithuania will be suspended for four days in mid-June, Lietuvos Gelezinkeliai (Lithuanian Railways, LTG) said on Wednesday.

Passenger and freight trains will not run on the Klaipeda-Plunge section from June 16 to 19 due to repairs on the Kulupenai railway bridge, which began in May.

"After this repair, the bridge will be usable for another 50 years," the state-owned company said.

During this period, the frequency of train trips on the Vilnius-Klaipeda route will be reduced to eight per day from the usual 10 to 12. 

Passengers will travel by train from Vilnius to Plunge, then continue by bus from Plunge to Klaipeda.

Train services on the Klaipeda-Siauliai-Radviliskis, Klaipeda-Siauliai-Klaipeda, and Radviliskis-Siauliai-Klaipeda routes will be completely suspended on those days.

Regular train service between Klaipeda and Plunge is expected to resume on June 20.

 

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Maskalioviene assumes position as new defense vice minister in Lithuania

VILNIUS, Jun 04, BNS - Loreta Maskalioviene has assumed her new position as Lithuania's defense vice minister on Wednesday.

She will coordinate the national defense system's acquisitions, as well as defense and security industry development issues, the ministry said today.

"We need to not only counter threats, but also turn them into opportunities and turn defense spending into investments. Lithuania's industrial sector has the potential to supply our armed forces and to consolidate its position with the global supply chains. That is why we are creating the vice ministerial position within our team, whose direct responsibility will be to ensure the purposeful and sustainable development of the defense industry," Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene was quoted as saying in the ministry's statement.

Maskalioviene has extensive experience in strategic management, investment planning and international cooperation, the ministry pointed out.

Maskalioviene says that working in this important area requires creating and maintaining a favorable environment for the defense industry, fostering international cooperation, and ensuring that Lithuania has sufficient resources and capacity to respond to the current security challenges.

"I am convinced that together with Lithuania's strong and innovative business and industry, we can significantly strengthen the security of not only our country, but also that of the whole region," she said.

Prior to her appointment as a defense vice minister, Maskalioviene served as deputy director general of the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists, where she coordinated economic, defense industry, national security and legislative issues.

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Lithuanian govt OKs development of military infrastructure projects in Siauliai, Palanga

VILNIUS, Jun 04, BNS – Lithuania's government on Wednesday approved the development of two strategic military infrastructure projects in Palanga and Siauliai.

The host country support infrastructure will not only strengthen allied communication systems along the Baltic Sea, but also create better conditions for NATO allied military units conducting tasks in Siauliai, the Defense Ministry said.

"We are developing strategic military infrastructure throughout Lithuania, with 29 hectares of land plots being formed in Palanga and Siauliai, which will accommodate allied communication systems and host nation support infrastructure," Defense Vice Minister Defence Orijana Masale said.

The implementation of these projects will not only strengthen the operational capability of Lithuania and allies in the Baltic Sea region, but also ensure the effective implementation of Lithuania's commitments as a NATO country, she added.

Engineering structures and an antenna (receiver) field will be installed on a 12-hectare plot of land in Palanga near the Butinge oil terminal, which will ensure communication with allied vessels in Lithuanian territorial waters.

Around 6 million euros from the national and NATO Security Investment Program will be allocated to this project.

Moreover, an area of about 17 hectares is being developed in Siauliai, which will be used for the deployment of allied military units. Funding for this project is foreseen from national resources and NATO Security Investment Program.

Both sites are on the list of military infrastructure needed to provide host nation support, approved by the government in November 2022.

Lithuania plans to allocate an additional 12-13 billion euros on national defense by 2030, which would raise defense funding to 5-6 percent of GDP.

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Lithuanian cabinet clears drone, optical equipment purchases without public tender

VILNIUS, Jun 04, BNS – The Lithuanian government on Wednesday gave the green light for skipping public tender procedures when procuring unmanned aerial vehicles, counter-drone systems, optical surveillance equipment and laser target designators.

The Cabinet approved a resolution, drafted by the Defense Ministry, that exempts these purchases from the rules of the Law on Public Procurement in the Fields of Defense and Security.

According to the ministry, counter-drone systems from NT Service will be acquired for up to 12 million euros. Another 9 million euros will go toward optical surveillance devices from Brolis Semiconductors, while laser target designators from Aktyvus Photonics will be purchased for up to 1.5 million euros.

The ministry did not name any specific manufacturers for UAV acquisitions.

It plans to spend up to 19 million euros on various types of drones, including first-person view (FPV) drones for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, reconnaissance drones, and others intended for Lithuania's military.

The UAVs will be purchased from domestic companies that either manufacture or assemble them in Lithuania.

"Lithuanian companies would have to meet key requirements – the drone control software must be developed in Lithuania, and the cloud infrastructure used to store and transmit drone data must be located exclusively in NATO or European Union member states. This would help protect the UAVs and their data from cyber threats and ensure secure use," the ministry said.

It noted that more than one supplier may be chosen for each type of drone, in a bid to support and encourage local companies manufacturing and assembling UAVs.

 

By Vilmantas Venckūnas

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We must strive for better economic resilience, support for rules-based trade – Budrys

VILNIUS, Jun 04, BNS – Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys has stressed the need to strengthen the rules-based trading system and tackle unfair competition and vulnerabilities in supply chains as he took part in a discussion on international trade held by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

The minister also stressed the need to expand cooperation with like-minded partners to build economic resilience, the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

"We need to work towards better economic resilience and support for open, rules-based trade," Lithuania's top diplomat said

Budrys also stressed that the OECD must remain an active policy guidance provider, shaping rules not only among its members, but also outside the organization.

"Lithuania supports the OECD development as an opportunity to globally disseminate the organization's values and to strengthen economic reforms based on the highest standards around the world. We look forward to continued active OECD work in the regions, especially in Eastern Europe and the Indo-Pacific region," Budrys said.

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Lithuanian cabinet approves recall of ambassadors to US, Spain, Turkey, Egypt 

VILNIUS, Jun 04, BNS – The government on Wednesday approved the recall of Lithuania's ambassadors to the United States, Spain, Turkey and Egypt following the end of their terms.

Audra Plepyte will end her tenure as ambassador to the United States on July 14. Lyra Puisyte-Bostroem is set to be recalled from her post in Spain on August 22, and Arturas Gailiunas from Egypt on the same date.

Ricardas Degutis will leave his post as ambassador to Turkey on August 25.

The recalls still require President Gitanas Nauseda's approval.

Lithuania’s ambassadors to Estonia and South Korea are also set to conclude their terms this summer.

Last week, the government approved the recall of Raimonda Murmokaite, Lithuania’s ambassador to Tallinn, effective July 17, and Ricardas Slepavicius, the ambassador to Seoul, effective July 31.

 

By Vilmantas Venckūnas

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Lithuanian govt backs proposal to allow national economic sanctions on Russia, Belarus

VILNIUS, Jun 04, BNS – The Lithuanian government has approved a proposal to amend the law to allow national economic sanctions to be imposed on Russia and Belarus.

The Cabinet on Wednesday endorsed a draft law prepared by the Foreign Ministry. The legislation must still be approved by the par Seimas.

"Sanctions remain a key instrument of the European Union's foreign policy in response to Russia's continued aggression against Ukraine, but extending them is never an easy process – it presents all sorts of challenges," Deputy Foreign Minister Gabija Grigaite-Daugirde told the Cabinet while presenting the bill. 

"We are doing everything we can to ensure sanctions stay in place at the EU level, but we must also be ready for all potential scenarios," she added.

The bill would authorize the Lithuanian government to impose two types of sanctions: asset freezes and sectoral restrictions. 

In both cases, the lists of sanctioned individuals and companies would be drawn up by the Cabinet.

"These restrictive measures would only be used in exceptional circumstances, as a last resort, if the EU suspended sanctions on Russia and Belarus, or if member states failed to reach agreement on extending them,” the Foreign Ministry said.

Vilnius wants other EU members bordering Russia or Belarus to adopt similar national measures in such a case. This would prevent goods from those countries from entering the bloc by land and increase trade costs.

"Lithuania must be ready to act together with the other Baltic states, because Estonia has also given its government broad powers to adopt such decisions and Latvia's government can do the same," Grigaite-Daugirde said.

EU sanctions must be extended by unanimous agreement, but this time there are concerns Hungary might veto the move.

The EU has adopted 17 sanctions packages against Russia since February 24, 2022, when Moscow launched its large-scale invasion of Ukraine. These sanctions target both specific individuals and the Kremlin's economic sectors and companies.

These sanctions target both individuals and Russia's economic sectors and businesses.

By Vilmantas Venckūnas

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Lithuania set to relaunch 2nd offshore wind farm tender on June 9

VILNIUS, Jun 04, BNS – The government on Wednesday approved next Monday, June 9, as the date to relaunch a tender for the right to develop Lithuania's second 700 MW offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea. 

Following the Cabinet's approval, the National Energy Regulatory Council (NERC) is expected to make the final decision on Friday.

Bidders in the new tender will be eligible for state incentives under updated conditions approved by the parliament in mid-May.

Under the new rules, the contract price will be adjusted annually for eight years from the date the winner is announced, taking into account changes in Lithuania's average annual electricity market price due to inflation, the Energy Ministry said.

Consumers would only start contributing financially once the farm begins producing electricity, which is expected to happen around 2033.

The tender will go ahead if at least two bidders participate. Registration and submission of documents will be open until September 8.

The first attempt to auction off the right to develop the second wind farm failed to attract the minimum of two bidders last year.

In January, the government allowed the temporary suspension of the tender – relaunched in November 2024 – to help limit its impact on electricity prices.

 

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Memorial plaque to two Jewish rescuers to be installed in Vilnius

VILNIUS, Jun 04, BNS - A memorial plaque to two Lithuanian Righteous Among the Nations, Danielius Jurkus and Marija Jurkiene, will be installed on a building in the Zverynas area of Vilnius after the Vilnius City Council approved the decision on Wednesday.

A standard commemorative plaque will be installed on the No 26 building on Poskos Street, indicating that Jurkus and Marija Jurkiene lived there during WWII and rescued Jews.

This decision was based the recommendation of the municipal Historical Remembrance Commission. Its chair, Kamile Gogeliene, said that the bravery and humanity of the Jurkus family in the darkest period of history reminds us of the preciousness of every life saved.

"This decision is a tribute not only to them, but also to eveyrone who risked their lives to save others. It is a memory that is binding. We are working hard to ensure that all the Righteous Among the Nations who lived here and saved Jews will be commemorated in Vilnius," Gogeliene said.

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Lithuania's 2nd pillar pension reform would harm its capital market, Brussels warns 

VILNIUS, Jun 04, BNS – Lithuania's planned pension reform, if approved by the parliament and implemented by the government, would hold back the capital market's growth and hinder access to financing, the European Commission warned on Wednesday.

"Planned changes to the second-pillar pension scheme raise risks related to the further development of Lithuanian capital markets," the EU executive body said in its recommendations for Lithuania.  

"An opt-in model combined with other policy actions is likely to reduce the level of savings in Lithuania, which could undermine the development of the capital markets and complicate access to finance," it said, referring to the proposal to eliminate automatic enrolment in the second-pillar pension scheme.

The Commission noted that Lithuania's second-pillar pension funds currently hold assets worth 9.1 billion euros, equivalent to 11.6 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), with about 1 billion euros invested in the local market.

It said that Lithuania's capital market is still underdeveloped and businesses have limited borrowing options, leaving them often reliant on bank financing with high interest rates and strict collateral requirements.

The Commission added that while the country's venture capital sector shows "some promise," private equity investments "remain below EU standards." 

It recommended that Lithuania "improve access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises including by stimulating competition in financial services and participation in financial markets and through automatic enrolment in the second-pillar pension scheme."

Finance Minister Rimantas Sadzius said in May that he had received criticism from Brussels on the planned reform.

The government's plans to reform the second pillar have passed their first reading in the parliament. The proposals include ending automatic enrolment, allowing participants to opt out, permitting a one-time withdrawal of 25 percent of accumulated funds, and allowing full withdrawal in cases of serious illness, while keeping the 1.5 percent state contribution for those who continue saving.

The Constitutional Court ruled in March 2024 that the absence of a legal provision allowing people to terminate their retirement saving contracts for important reasons was unconstitutional.

 

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Lithuanian parlt commission chair hopes all vaults of Vilnius Cathedral will be explored

VILNIUS, Jun 4, BNS - Darius Jakavicius, chair of the Lithuanian parliamentary Commission for the Cause of Freedom and the National Historical Memory, hopes that the previously unexplored areas of the vaults of Vilnius Cathedral will be explored.

"We have been shown the places where research would be needed. There are modern methods where spaces can be explored without demolishing the walls. I believe that in the near future these spaces will be explored," he told journalists on Wednesday after his visit to the vaults of Vilnius Cathedral.

In his words, some 25-30 percent of these areas have not been opened up yet. "I believe we no longer have those places X in the cathedral's vaults in the coming years," he added.

The MP also says he's not given up the idea of trying to identify the more than 800 remains in the cathedral's vaults.

"We don't know who they are. Nobody can deny that the Lithuanian ruler Vytautas Magnus may be among those remains," Jakavicius said, adding that there are the remains of 823 persons lying there. They were discovered in the vaults after the great flood of 1931 in Vilnius.

The need to investigate the vaults of Vilnius Cathedral came to the fore when, in December last year, the burial crowns of Alexander, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, and Elisabeth of Habsburg, Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania, were found after they were hidden there during WWII, along with other valuables.

The first cathedral was built on this site in the middle of the 13th century. It has been burnt down, destroyed, looted, rebuilt and redecorated several times since then.

By Jūratė Skėrytė

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Upcoming events in Lithuania for Thursday, June 5, 2025

VILNIUS, Jun 05, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Thursday, June 5, 2025:

PRESIDENT Gitanas Nauseda to give his State of the Nation Adress at 10 a.m.

A SEIMAS delegation to attend the XXV session of the Assembly of the Seimas of Lithuania and the Sejm and senate of the Republic of Poland in Warsaw.

FOREIGN MINISTER Kestutis Budrys to pay a bilateral visit to Norway.

 

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LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

IN THIS ISSUE:

1. Upcoming events in Lithuania for Tuesday, June 3, 2025
2. Lithuania records no illegal border crossings from Belarus
3. Lithuanian, Polish presidents to meet at Lithuanian seaside 
4. Lithuanian FM to attend OECD Ministerial, meet defense industry reps in Paris
5. Lithuania would prefer 5 pct spending on hard defense – presidential aide 
6. Lithuania's Nauseda expects to meet Polish president-elect this summer – aide
7. Giving up Ukraine's NATO membership prospect would be 'mistake' – advisor
8. Lithuanian advisor doubts that now is the best time to recognize Palestine
9. Lithuania expects to finish 1st phase of Rudninkai military campus ahead of schedule
10. Lithuania is against EC initiative to restrict the use of lead (media)
11. Lithuanian PM says resignation demands 'taken out of thin air'
12. AirBaltic launches direct flights from Vilnius to Tirana
13. No signs Russia or Belarus could attack NATO countries – Lithuanian parlt committee chair
14. Lithuanian MPs to continue debate on making January 13 public holiday
15. Zapad exercise in Belarus poses no additional threats to Lithuania – PM
16. Lithuanian PM hopes ties with Poland will remain strong under new president
17. Moldovan chief of defense makes 1st official visit to Lithuania
18. Zapad exercise in Belarus poses no additional threats to Lithuania – PM (expands)
19. Lithuanian parlt begins debate on overhaul of armed forces' structure 
20. Upcoming events in Lithuania for Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Upcoming events in Lithuania for Tuesday, June 3, 2025

VILNIUS, Jun 03, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Tuesday, June 3, 2025:

PRESIDENT Gitanas Nauseda to meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda in Palanga at 1.20 p.m., followed by their joint press conference.

SPEAKER OF THE SEIMAS Saulius Skvernelis to pay a working visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

FOREIGN MINISTER Kestutis Budrys attending an OECD Ministerial Council Meeting in Paris.

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Lithuania records no illegal border crossings from Belarus

VILNIUS, Jun 03, BNS – Lithuanian border guards have recorded no attempts to cross into the country from Belarus illegally in the past 24 hours, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) said on Tuesday morning.

Latvia reported 86 illegal border crossing attempts on Monday. Poland denied entry to 103 irregular migrants on Sunday, according to the latest available information.

Lithuania has barred 818 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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Lithuanian, Polish presidents to meet at Lithuanian seaside 

VILNIUS, Jun 03, BNS – Gitanas Nauseda is meeting with Andrzej Duda, on his final visit to Lithuania as Poland's president, at the Lithuanian seaside on Tuesday.  

"The two leaders will discuss the outcomes of bilateral cooperation between Lithuania and Poland, the regional security situation, support for Ukraine, preparations for the NATO Summit in The Hague, and shared interests within the European Union," the Lithuanian president's office said.

A joint press conference is planned after the bilateral meeting.

Duda said in Vilnius on Monday that he would encourage Karol Nawrocki, the Polish president-elect, to strengthen ties with Lithuania. 

Nauseda, in turn, said he expected to continue close cooperation with Nawrocki.

 

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Lithuanian FM to attend OECD Ministerial, meet defense industry reps in Paris

VILNIUS, Jun 03, BNS – Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys is visiting Paris on Tuesday and Wednesday for the Ministerial Council Meeting of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Budrys will deliver a speech at the opening session, take part in discussions on international trade, the OECD's external relations and support for Ukraine, and chair a session on the digital economy, according to the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry.

Lithuania is serving as a vice-chair of this year's meeting. 

As part of his visit to Paris, Budrys is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings and meet with representatives of the defense industry.

The OECD 2025 Ministerial Council Meeting is being held under the theme "Leading the Way Towards Resilient, Inclusive, and Sustainable Prosperity Through Rules-Based Trade, Investment and Innovation." It is chaired by Costa Rica, with Australia, Canada and Lithuania as vice-chairs.

 

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Lithuania would prefer 5 pct spending on hard defense – presidential aide 

VILNIUS, Jun 03, BNS – Asta Skaisgiryte, President Gitanas Nauseda's chief foreign policy advisor, said on Tuesday that NATO's proposed increase in defense funding should focus strictly on military needs, though compromise solutions could be considered.

Skaisgiryte's comments come as NATO countries debate a model that includes a 3.5 percent target for hard defense spending and an extra 1.5 percent for defense-related needs, such as dual-use infrastructure.

"In our view, the full 5 percent should go toward military spending, primarily on weapons," the advisor told the Ziniu Radijas radio station.

"This split into 3.5 and 1.5 percent is not what we would prefer, but it could work as a compromise," she added.

US President Donald Trump has been pressing allies to commit 5 percent of their GDP to defense.

Skaisgiryte acknowledged that reaching that target for hard defense could be challenging for larger countries. She also noted that some of them feel less directly threatened by a potential war with Russia.

The advisor emphasized, however, that Russia is capable of striking targets anywhere in Europe.

"Russia's weapons are being modernized and made highly effective. Whether a missile is launched at the Baltic Sea region or deep into Western Europe, say the Iberian Peninsula, we're talking about just a few minutes' difference," Skaisgiryte said.

"It's not like the Iberian Peninsula is out of reach. It's within range if missiles are aimed in that direction," she added.

NATO leaders are expected to agree on new defense spending commitments at their summit in The Hague later this month. 

 

By Saulius Jakučionis

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Lithuania's Nauseda expects to meet Polish president-elect this summer – aide

VILNIUS, Jun 03, BNS – Gitanas Nauseda expects to meet with Karol Nawrocki, Poland's president-elect, later this summer, the Lithuanian president's chief foreign policy advisor said on Tuesday.

"I believe the two presidents (...) will meet this summer," Asta Skaisgiryte told the Ziniu Radijas radio station.

Nawrocki was elected in Sunday's presidential runoff.

Poland's outgoing President Andrzej Duda said in Vilnius on Monday that he would suggest that Nawrocki, who takes office in August, strengthen ties with Lithuania.

Nauseda, in turn, said he hopes to continue close cooperation with Nawrocki.

Duda and Poland's main right-wing opposition party, Law and Justice (PiS), backed Nawrocki during the campaign.

 

 

By Saulius Jakučionis

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Giving up Ukraine's NATO membership prospect would be 'mistake' – advisor

VILNIUS, Jun 03, BNS – Giving up the prospect of Ukraine's NATO membership would be a mistake, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda's chief foreign policy advisor warns.

She made the remarks amid media reports that Russia is demanding as a condition for peace in Ukraine that NATO does not accept any more new member states formerly occupied by the Soviet Union.

"We are talking about the fact that NATO membership is not a matter of today, it is a matter of the future, but to refuse such an opportunity even in the future would be a mistake, in my opinion,” sh told the Ziniu Radijas news radio on Tuesday.

The Reuters news agency reported on Monday that as part of the ongoing peace talks, Russia is demanding a written commitment from NATO that it will no longer expand eastwards.

Skaisgiryte says that real peace talks have not yet started, and she doubts that "the Ukrainians would easily give up NATO membership".

“It is written into their Constitution and it would be very difficult to give it up," she said.

Russia says the peace deal should also include the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from four Ukrainian territories partially controlled by Russia, the recognition of Crimea by Moscow, the demilitarization of Ukraine, and new elections.

Skaisgiryte called these demands "strange-sounding".

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Lithuanian advisor doubts that now is the best time to recognize Palestine

VILNIUS, Jun 03, BNS - Asta Skaisgiryte, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda's senior foreign policy advisor, doubts that now is the best time to recognize Palestinian statehood.

"I don't know if now is the right time to consider that. Why recognize the Palestinian state now? What has changed in that state? What has changed? What is new? Lithuania has not yet recognized Palestine and I don't think it could happen in the near future," Skaisgiryte told the Ziniu Radijas news radio on Tuesday.

Foreign media have recently reported that France has started pooling a coalition of European countries to recognize Palestine. The move comes amid mounting pressure on Israel to end its military action in the Gaza Strip.

Spain, Ireland and Norway recognized Palestinian statehood in the spring of 2024.

Supporters of recognition argue that it would help a diplomatic solution to the Palestinian conflict with Israel, but critics question the redrawing of borders during an active phase of war and argue that Palestine cannot be recognized as long as Gaza is ruled by Hamas.

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Lithuania expects to finish 1st phase of Rudninkai military campus ahead of schedule

VILNIUS, Jun 03, BNS – Eika Construction, the contractor for the first phase of the Rudninkai military campus in eastern Lithuania, expects to complete the construction work six months ahead of schedule, the Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.

"The relocation of the German brigade to Lithuania for permanent deployment, and the creation of the necessary infrastructure for it, is one of our government's top priorities and is receiving special attention,"Deputy Defense Minister Orijana Masale said in a press release.

"I am pleased to see that the business sector also recognizes the importance of this project and is doing its utmost to ensure that the infrastructure for our German partners is delivered as quickly as possible," she added.

Design and construction work at the Rudninkai military training area began in August 2024. Under the contract, the work was to take 36 months, but the contractor hopes to cut that by six months.

The campus is being developed in phases, in line with the German Defense Ministry's needs. This will allow part of the German brigade to arrive sooner, without having to wait for the entire campus to be finished.

The Lithuanian Defense Ministry has already launched the procurement for infrastructure and public services for the second phase. It will be carried out through a public-private partnership and divided into three parts to reduce risks to the state.

The Rudninkai military campus is the largest military infrastructure project in the history of independent Lithuania and will be the main base for German troops in the country.

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." 

Currently, 500 military personnel from the German brigade are stationed in Lithuania. The brigade is expected to reach its full warfighting capability – 5,000 military and civilian personnel, along with all necessary equipment, gear and supplies – in 2027.

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Lithuania is against EC initiative to restrict the use of lead (media)

VILNIUS, Jun 03, BNS - Lithuania does not support the European Commission's aim to restrict the use of lead, which is toxic to the environment and humans, even though the metal would be allowed to be used for military and security purposes, the delfi.lt news website reports on Tuesday.

According to the Defense Ministry, the proposed exemptions for ammunition used in the military could still have a negative impact on national defense as, in times of a tense geopolitical situation, it would undermine the market for lead ammunition used by the military and Lithuania's readiness to defend itself.

The Defense Ministry also points out that EU law is adapted to peacetime conditions.

Giraites Ginkluotes Gamykla (Giraite Armament Plant, GGG), Lithuania's state-owned ammo maker, says it would be difficult to replace lead in cartridges with copper as copper is more expensive, which subsequently would make the cartridges more expensive, the plant would need new specific equipment and it would be more difficult to maintain the quality of cartridges.

The EC proposes to ban lead pellets for sport shooting and hunting, and lead weights in fishing tackle with concentrations above 1 percent. The Commission says it is a highly toxic metal for aquatic organisms and human fertility.

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Lithuanian PM says resignation demands 'taken out of thin air'

VILNIUS, Jun 03, BNS – Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas says that demands for him to take responsibility for a loan issued to a company he co-owns and resign are "taken our of thin air".

"I have not committed any wrongdoing, I am not accused of anything, why should I resign? These are all made up, the opposition's questions have been written down and I will answer them," the prime minister told journalists at the Seimas on Tuesday. "Any demands to take responsibility for something that has not been done seem to me to taken out of thin air."

During the parliament's plenary sitting on Tuesday, the prime minister will answer questions on the circumstances surrounding the issuance of the soft loan Garnis, a company co-owned by the prime minister, received.

The opposition Liberals will ask Paluckas to provide more information on the timing of the application to the national development bank ILTE, explain the logic behind the company's establishment and shareholder structure, show the Seimas the loan application and contract, provide the documents on the sources of the capital increase at the company co-owned by the prime minister and his partner, etc.

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.

In his recent Facebook post, journalist and public figure Andrius 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.

"All the allegations will be weighed and measured by the institutions asked to do so, the information has been provided, and I will certainly not make any other comments," the prime minister said. "All the insinuations, the reasoning, the suppression of facts, the distortion of those facts, the suppression of the explanations already given by some of the institutions, suggest that nobody really needs answers and the truth here."

Following media reports about his company, the prime minister asked the Chief Official Ethics Commission to assess the situation, although he maintains he's not in a conflict of public and private interests.

For its part, the Special Investigation Service says it's looking into the latest media repots, 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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AirBaltic launches direct flights from Vilnius to Tirana

VILNIUS, Jun 03, BNS - Latvian airline airBaltic is launching direct flights to Tirana from Vilnius to the Albanian capital Tirana.

Flights will take place twice a week until September 30, the airline said on Tuesday.

"Since the launch of direct flights from our home base in Riga to Tirana last year, demand for travel between the Baltics and Albania has grown significantly, making it one of our most popular summer destinations. As a result, we have decided to expand our presence in the Albanian market by introducing new direct service from both Tallinn and Vilnius as well. These new routes offer excellent leisure opportunities for travelers from the Baltics, support inbound tourism from Albania to our region, and enhance connectivity to the Baltic States and beyond, across our network of more than 70 destinations," Mantas Vrubliauskas, VP Network Management at airBaltic, said in the statement.

This summer season, airBaltic will operate 16 direct flights from Vilnius to various destinations in Europe and beyond, as well as from Palanga to Amsterdam.

The airline flies to nearly 130 destinations in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and the Caucasus from Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius, Tampere and seasonally from Gran Canaria.

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No signs Russia or Belarus could attack NATO countries – Lithuanian parlt committee chair

VILNIUS, Jun 03, BNS – Giedrimas Jeglinskas, chairman of Lithuania's parliamentary Committee on National Security and Defense (CNSD), said on Tuesday that there are currently no indications that Russia or Belarus could attack NATO countries. 

Jeglinskas' remarks came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the Bucharest Nine and Nordic leaders in Vilnius on Monday to seek intelligence on Belarus' plans during this fall's Zapad military drills. 

"Our intelligence services have a clear picture of what's happening in Belarus. NATO countries' intelligence sees it too. Right now, there are no indications that Russia, let alone Belarus, could or would be able to carry out a conventional attack on NATO countries," the committee chairman told reporters.

Russia and Belarus are planning to hold the 2025 edition of Zapad, a large-scale military exercise typically held every two years since 2009, in September. The drills, which were skipped in 2023, always raise concerns among officials in neighboring countries about the risk of unintentional incidents.

Jeglinskas said Zelensky's comments reflect the Ukrainian leader's typical rhetorical approach.

"This is a fairly characteristic style for President Zelensky – he often hints that NATO should be more prepared, that Russia or Belarus might strike at any moment. We have to stay alert and understand the context in which he's speaking," he said.

His remarks were echoed by Laurynas Kasciunas, CNSD vice-chairman and former defense minister, who noted that Zelensky, having previously faced attacks from Belarusian territory, is in a state of war and sees things "through an unconventional lens."

"We are taking this very seriously as well, but at this moment there's no intelligence-based data with clear indicators – keeping in mind that Western and NATO intelligence is the strongest in the world – of anything unusual or non-standard, or beyond our control," the conservative MP said. 

"That goes for the Zapad drills and for other developments," he added.

Minsk announced last week that it would scale back the Zapad military exercise with Russia planned for September, cutting the number of troops involved in the drills and moving them away from the western border.

The country's defense minister said the move was meant "to demonstrate to our allies and partners around the world the truly peace-loving position of the Republic of Belarus."

Jeglinskas said that despite the announced reduction, the exercise will as usual involve scenarios centered on confrontation with NATO.

"The scenarios played out during these drills are clear – NATO is always included, whether it's an attack on the Alliance or a clash with its forces. That hasn't changed, and it doesn't alter the intentions of either Belarus or Russia to carry out offensive or, as they see it, defensive actions against NATO," he said.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has said that Tarassis 25 – a Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) exercise scheduled to run at the same time as Zapad – will be the largest since the multinational force was established.

The officially stated objectives of Zapad are to practice joint defensive and offensive operations, improve cooperation between the armed forces and test troops' readiness for various security scenarios.

In 2021, the drills involved around 200,000 troops from Russia, Belarus and some other countries. In 2022, Belarus and Russia held a major joint exercise, Union Resolve, which began two weeks before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

 

By Dominykas Biržietis, Paulius Perminas

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Lithuanian MPs to continue debate on making January 13 public holiday

VILNIUS, Jun 03, BNS – Lithuanian lawmakers have decided to continue their debate on declaring January 13, the Day of the Defenders of Freedom, a public holiday.

On Tuesday, the Seimas Committee on Social Affairs and Labor did not approve the conclusion to reject Seimas Speaker Saul Skvernelis' proposal. The committee's conclusion was backed by 33 members of the Seimas, 78 voted against and eight abstained.

Skvernelis says the Day of the Defenders of Freedom deserved more recognition than its current status of a commemorative day.

Meanwhile, the Committee on Social Affairs and Labor believes that, although January 13, 1991 was one of the most important dates in the history of modern Lithuania, it is characterized by established commemorative traditions.

After the Seimas rejected this conclusion, the motion will be further considered by the parliamentary Committee on Human Rights.

Now in Lithuania, there are 16 public holidays, three of which fall on weekends.

The government agrees to declare January 13 a public holiday but is proposing not to increase the number of non-working days by excluding November 2, All Souls' Day, from the list of public holiday.

Some politicians propose making January 13 a public holiday instead of the International Labor Day on May 1.

Fourteen civilians were killed and hundreds more were wounded when the Soviet troops stormed the TV Tower and the Radio and Television Committee building in Vilnius in the early morning hours of January 13, 1991 as the Soviets attempted to overthrow by military force the legitimate government of Lithuania, which had declared its independence from the Soviet Union on March 11, 1990.

By Jūratė Skėrytė

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Zapad exercise in Belarus poses no additional threats to Lithuania – PM

VILNIUS, Jun 03, BNS – The Zapad military exercise scheduled to take place in Belarus in the fall does not pose any additional threat to Lithuania, Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas says. 

"As regards the Zapad exercise, information is being gathered not only by our intelligence agencies, but also by NATO's intelligence agencies, and all the conclusions are the same: the exercise, which is currently being organized, does not pose any problems or additional threats in terms of its scope and other aspects," the prime minister told reporters at the Seimas on Tuesday.

He refrained to comment on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's call during a meeting of the Bucharest Nine and Nordic leaders in Vilnius on Monday to seek information from the intelligence services on Russia's plans for Belarus this summer.

"I don't know what information the Ukrainian intelligence service or the Ukrainian president have at their disposal, but the information that we have does not pose any additional threats, so the public should not be additionally worried and stressed,"  Paluckas underlined.

"There's no need to be alarmed. All the information we receive from the special services is taken very seriously, but there are no additional threats that need to be known or communicated to the public," he reiterated.

Earlier in the day, Giedrimas Jeglinskas, chairman of Lithuania's parliamentary Committee on National Security and Defense, said there are currently no indications that Russia or Belarus could attack NATO countries.

Jeglinskas' remarks came after Zelensky called on allies to seek intelligence on Belarus' plans regarding Zapad, a large-scale joint military exercise with Russia.

"Ask your intelligence what Russia is planning this summer in Belarus. If they are bold enough to prepare attacks from there, then we need more strength together," he said.

Held every two years since 2009, the Zapad exercise is scheduled for September.

The officially stated objectives are to practice joint defensive and offensive operations, improve cooperation between the armed forces and test troops' readiness for various security scenarios.

However, the drills always raise concerns among officials in neighboring countries about the risk of unintentional incidents.

No Zapad exercise took place in 2023.

British intelligence has cited Russia's shortage of troops and equipment, as well as the Kremlin's unwillingness to face criticism for holding yet another show of force during the war in Ukraine, as likely reasons for the cancellation. 

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has said that Tarassis 25 – a Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) exercise scheduled to run at the same time as Zapad – will be the largest since the multinational force was established.

This fall, the Lithuanian Armed Forces' combat units will also take part in the Thunder Strike exercise, which will include tactical maneuvers across various locations and military training areas, in line with the country's national defense plan.

By Jūratė Skėrytė

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Lithuanian PM hopes ties with Poland will remain strong under new president

VILNIUS, Jun 03, BNS – Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas said on Tuesday that he hopes that Vilnius and Warsaw will maintain their strategic partnership following Poland's recent presidential election.

"The close bilateral relations and ties between Lithuania and Poland bring tangible benefits to the people of both countries – both economically and in terms of security. I am convinced that the strategic partnership between our two nations is strong – and will remain so," the Lithuanian government quoted the prime minister as saying during a meeting with outgoing Polish President Andrzej Duda.

Paluckas and Duda discussed bilateral relations, energy security, regional infrastructure projects, defense cooperation and other key issues, according to the press release.

The two leaders underlined the need to ensure the implementation of the Harmony Link onshore interconnector and the protection of critical infrastructure, and underlined the importance of the Rail Baltica and Via Baltica projects for both economic growth and military mobility.

The prime minister noted that Poland plays a crucial role in ensuring regional security and supporting Ukraine, and serves as a model for all allies in the field of defense investment.

The leaders also emphasized the need to maintain transatlantic unity and ensure a continued US military presence in Europe during the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague.

Karol Nawrocki, a conservative historian who positioned himself as a Eurosceptic, narrowly won Sunday's presidential runoff against liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski.

Duda, whose second term ends on August 6, and the main right-wing opposition party Law and Justice (PiS) backed Nawrocki during the campaign.

 

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Moldovan chief of defense makes 1st official visit to Lithuania

VILNIUS, Jun 03, BNS – Moldova's Chief of Defense General Vitalie Micov arrived in Lithuania on Tuesday for his first official visit and met with his Lithuanian counterpart, General Raimundas Vaiksnoras, the Lithuanian Armed Forces said.

The two generals discussed the security situation in both regions, Moldova's progress in modernizing its armed forces in line with NATO standards, and Lithuania's support for the education and training of Moldova's military and civilian personnel through expert meetings and experience-sharing under agreed cooperation formats, the military said in a press release.

"Moldova is our partner in the effort to preserve peace in Eastern Europe. A shared understanding of threats, the growing need to respond to them, and military cooperation are the threads that bind the Lithuanian and Moldovan armed forces," Vaiksnoras said after the meeting.

"I believe this partnership has already grown into a friendship that will allow us to jointly ensure regional security," he added.

Command Senior Enlisted Leader of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Sergeant Major Darius Masiulis and his Moldovan counterpart Sergeant Major Andrei Cojocaru also met to discuss issues within their areas of responsibility.

Under its approved training programs, the Lithuanian Armed Forces regularly train both Lithuanian and foreign troops, including personnel from Moldova. Moldovan officers also study at the Baltic Defense College, which plans to admit more students from Moldova as part of efforts to support the reform of the country's professional military education system.

The commanders of the Lithuanian Grand Hetman Jonas Karolis Chodkevicius Infantry Brigade Zemaitija and the Lithuanian Grand Duke Kestutis Infantry Battalion visited Moldova in April.

Micov is also scheduled to visit the Military Police and meet with its commander, Lieutenant Colonel Raimondas Ivanauskas.

The Moldovan chief of defense will also visit the Brigadier General Kazys Veverskis training area to meet with his country's troops undergoing various Lithuanian training programs and observe a demonstration of a drone piloting course using first-person view (FPV) technology.

The Lithuanian Armed Forces plan to deliver drones to the Moldovan military by the end of this year, with Lithuanian instructors providing training on how to operate the equipment.

 

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Zapad exercise in Belarus poses no additional threats to Lithuania – PM (expands)

Updated version: adds Sakaliene's comment

VILNIUS, Jun 03, BNS – The Zapad military exercise scheduled to take place in Belarus in the fall does not pose any additional threat to Lithuania, Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas says. 

"As regards the Zapad exercise, information is being gathered not only by our intelligence agencies, but also by NATO's intelligence agencies, and all the conclusions are the same: the exercise, which is currently being organized, does not pose any problems or additional threats in terms of its scope and other aspects," the prime minister told reporters at the Seimas on Tuesday.

He refrained to comment on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's call during a meeting of the Bucharest Nine and Nordic leaders in Vilnius on Monday to seek information from the intelligence services on Russia's plans for Belarus this summer.

"I don't know what information the Ukrainian intelligence service or the Ukrainian president have at their disposal, but the information that we have does not pose any additional threats, so the public should not be additionally worried and stressed,"  Paluckas underlined.

"There's no need to be alarmed. All the information we receive from the special services is taken very seriously, but there are no additional threats that need to be known or communicated to the public," he reiterated.

Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene also told journalists on Tuesday she sees no additional threats from Belarus.

"Our military intelligence is constantly collecting and analyzing information, monitoring very closely what is happening on the territory of Belarus. We know for sure what the situation is at the moment, what are the capabilities, what are their sizes and what is the plan when it comes to the Zapad exercise. And right now, we don’t see action that would cause additional concern or pose threat to our territory directly," the minister said.

According to Sakaliene, intelligence data suggests that the Zapad exercise will not be more threatening than usual.

"And what we see in the current context may change somewhat in the next couple of months, depending on certain political decisions of the Russian and Belarusian leaderships, and to a large extent, of course, depending on the course of the war in Ukraine," the defense minister added.

She said she understood Zelensky's statements as an attempt to draw attention to Russia and Belarus' continued aggression against his country.

"The situation in Ukraine is certainly complicated. The leader of the defending country, I think, very rightly wants to draw attention to the fact that the actions, aggression and further planned aggression of both Russia and Belarus are obvious," Sakaliene said.

The Ukrainian-Russian peace talks "are based on a certain assumption that Russia may want a ceasefire or it may want peace", although it doesn’t show such signs, the minister said.

"What I would say is that President Zelensky is probably constantly stressing in various statements that Russia should not be expected to make peace, it will not happen," Sakaliene said.

Earlier in the day, Giedrimas Jeglinskas, chairman of Lithuania's parliamentary Committee on National Security and Defense, said there are currently no indications that Russia or Belarus could attack NATO countries.

Jeglinskas' remarks came after Zelensky called on allies to seek intelligence on Belarus' plans regarding Zapad, a large-scale joint military exercise with Russia.

"Ask your intelligence what Russia is planning this summer in Belarus. If they are bold enough to prepare attacks from there, then we need more strength together," he said.

Held every two years since 2009, the Zapad exercise is scheduled for September.

The officially stated objectives are to practice joint defensive and offensive operations, improve cooperation between the armed forces and test troops' readiness for various security scenarios.

However, the drills always raise concerns among officials in neighboring countries about the risk of unintentional incidents.

No Zapad exercise took place in 2023.

British intelligence has cited Russia's shortage of troops and equipment, as well as the Kremlin's unwillingness to face criticism for holding yet another show of force during the war in Ukraine, as likely reasons for the cancellation. 

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has said that Tarassis 25 – a Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) exercise scheduled to run at the same time as Zapad – will be the largest since the multinational force was established.

This fall, the Lithuanian Armed Forces' combat units will also take part in the Thunder Strike exercise, which will include tactical maneuvers across various locations and military training areas, in line with the country's national defense plan.

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Lithuanian parlt begins debate on overhaul of armed forces' structure 

VILNIUS, Jun 03, BNS – The Lithuanian parliament on Tuesday gave its initial backing to proposals to overhaul the structure of the country's armed forces.

The Defense Ministry's draft amendments, which call for creating new military units, renaming existing ones and increasing the number of military personnel, passed their first reading in the Seimas with 89 votes in favor, none against and no abstentions.

"In light of the geopolitical situation and the growing need to strengthen the capabilities of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, and in line with the State Defense Council's decision to prepare a national division by 2030, we are proposing structural changes to the Lithuanian Armed Forces and changes to the manning of the national defense system," Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene told the parliament.

The amendments aim to increase the number of professional service members, volunteer troops, and reservists, as well as the number of senior officers, generals, admirals and cadets.

The plan calls for gradually raising the number of professional military personnel to 20,000, the number of volunteer troops to 6,800, and cadets to 600.

According to Sakaliene, the cap on the number of generals would rise from 14 to 22, and the maximum limit for colonels would increase from 66 to 90. The caps for lieutenant colonels, commanders, majors and lieutenant commanders would be set by decree of the defense minister.

"We also propose raising the number of reservists called up for training and exercises each year from 2,000 to 3,000. The expansion of reservist training will definitely continue," the minister said.

Structural changes

The Lithuanian Armed Forces' First Division would consist of three permanent, equally ranked brigades: the Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf, the Infantry Brigade Aukstaitija and the Lithuanian Grand Hetman Jonas Karolis Chodkevicius Infantry Brigade Zemaitija, as well as the Engineering and Artillery Regiments and a reconnaissance battalion.

The General Romualdas Giedraitis Artillery Battalion and the Brigadier General Motiejus Peciulionis Artillery Battalion would be part of the Artillery Regiment.

The bill also calls for creating new military units: a tank battalion within the Iron Wolf Brigade and a logistics battalion within the Aukstaitija Brigade.

Separate support units for the division would include a reconnaissance battalion, a communications battalion and a transport battalion. The Air Defense Regiment would comprise the First and Second Air Defense Battalions, while the Artillery Regiment would include rocket artillery and self-propelled artillery battalions.

The law on the core structure of the armed forces would also incorporate the Board of the Military Commandant's Offices and the Garrison Support Service.

If adopted, the legislation would introduce new names for a number of military units. The infantry division would be officially named the Lithuanian Armed Forces' First Division. The Air Force's Air Defense Regiment would be named the Kazimieras Semenavicius Air Defense Regiment. The Naval Forces' Port and Coastal Defense Service would become the General Kazimieras Nestoras Sapiega Fusilier Battalion.

The Depot Service would be named the Division General Jonas Sutkus Depot Service, while the Iron Wolf Brigade's Logistics Battalion would be renamed the Lieutenant General Jokubas Jasinskis Logistics Battalion.

According to the Defense Ministry, the proposed structural and manning changes would be financed from the ministry's regular state budget allocations. However, the additional weapons, equipment, ammunition and infrastructure needed to fully develop the division would be funded through separate state allocations.

It is estimated that around 28 billion euros will be needed additionally over the next decade to steadily develop the division and the armed forces and to procure the necessary equipment. After 2035, an additional 2 billion euros will be needed for further acquisitions.

Lithuania plans to allocate an additional 12 billion to 13 billion euros for national defense by 2030 as it develops the national division, acquires new equipment and prepares to host a German brigade. This would raise defense spending to 5 to 6 percent of GDP.

In April, the State Defense Council agreed to aim for around 20,000 military personnel in the Lithuanian Armed Forces by 2038.

 

 

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Upcoming events in Lithuania for Wednesday, June 4, 2025

VILNIUS, Jun 04, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Wednesday, June 4, 2025:

PRESIDENT Gitanas Nauseda's interview with Germany's Bild at 1 p.m.

SPEAKER OF THE SEIMAS Saulius Skvernelis to continue his working visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 

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