‘The first time we’ve prepared for war in peacetime’: Lithuania at the forefront of European defense
As a result of the Russian threat, the Baltic state has decided to increase its military spending to 6% of its GDP by 2030.
As a result of the Russian threat, the Baltic state has decided to increase its military spending to 6% of its GDP by 2030.
The Ukrainian president says he wonโt accept a peace agreement if his country is iced out of talks.
The Brits, French, and Germans all have their own ideas about how to defend the continent with Americaโs plans in flux.ย
There is broad agreement to boost defense spending โ but the U.S. president’s call for 5 percent of GDP is too much for most European countries.
European countries are pushing for new powers to squeeze Moscowโs shadow fleet after a spate of incidents in the Baltic Sea.
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania disconnected from Russia’s power network on Saturday morning and connected to the European grid on Sunday in a historic move.
“Today, history is made,” EU chief Ursula von der Leyen told a ceremony in Lithuania’s capital.
Three Baltic nations โ Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania โ disconnected from Moscow’s power grid to join the EU’s electricity network in an attempt to decrease their “vulnerability … to Russian blackmail”, FRANCE 24 Chief Foreign Editor Rob Parsons said…
The three Baltic states on Saturday cut ties with Russia’s power grid to join the European Union’s network, the culmination of a years-long process that gained urgency with Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuaniaย โ all former Sovie…
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia all disconnected from the Soviet-era grid on Saturday morning and will merge with the European energy system on Sunday.
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania disconnected their electricity systems from Russia’s power grid on Saturday, the region’s operators said, part of a plan designed to integrate the countries more closely with the EU and boost security.ย
Disconnecting from the Soviet-era grid faced an intimidation campaign โ but it’s Moscow that could be left in a precarious position.
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania switch to EU network after 80 years with former Soviet ruler
The country aims to curry favor and keep the U.S. president committed to transatlantic defense by being the first to catch the mood in Washington.
Defense Minister Wลadysลaw Kosiniak-Kamysz warns that Europe must spend more “to retain the presence of the Americans in Europe.”
Higher defense spending will not be financed by cutting the welfare state but by combining national and EU money, Dovilฤ ล akalienฤ told POLITICO.
Meta’s move to ditch fact-checking put a target on the back of fake-news fighters, they warn.
EU states to boost military plans as they deal with Russiaโs invasion of Ukraine
Slovakiaโs right-wing government is spearheading a push to strengthen EU rules on unfair trading practices, saying the current reforms donโt go far enough.
The French president warned Europe should prepare for a U.S. withdrawal from Europe.
Stรฉphane Sรฉjournรฉ said Europe needs to invest more in defense but that it would be impossible to do so amid a trade war.
Lithuania vows to raise defence spending to 5-6% of GDP to combat threat from Russia
Baltic Sea country leaders are meeting in Helsinki after a series of incidents involving energy and data cables.
Lithuania ramps up power grid security ahead of Russia decoupling
Fico wants to help Putin earn money to fund the war and weaken Europe, says Zelenskyy.
UK Defense Sec John Healey says military training should be a “better fit for what the Ukrainians need” โ and announces fresh ยฃ225 million in support.
U.K. leader Keir Starmer says talking about extra defense spending is tough at the moment.
โI really want people to … be on the streets and dismantle this regime,โ Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said.
Arrests follow mass protests of Caucasus countryโs decision to stall EU accession talks.
Latvia and Lithuania vetoed the package, objecting to the extension of a carveout that lets EU firms continue operating in Russia.
Sanctions target “the part of the Georgian government that is surrendering Georgia to Putin,โ Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said.
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Authorities are investigating the cause of the incident.
New EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas says democratic backsliding in Georgia “will have direct consequences.”
The European Parliament has called for elections to be rerun amid claims of irregularities and intimidation.
Two cables in the Baltic Sea linking Sweden to Lithuania, and Finland to Germany, were damaged.
The summit comes at a pivotal time for Europe, which is facing major strategic uncertainties, particularly over support for Ukraine.
Footage shows the moment a DHL cargo plane crashed as it came in to land at Vilnius airport in Lithuania. According to officials, one person was killed and three others on the aircraft were injured. Rescue services said the plane hit the ground and sli…
The controversial coalition sparks criticism at home and abroad.
The plan to transport millions of River Severn elvers to the pristine Vistula and Curonian lagoons is a viable way to conserve the species, says Peter WoodMillions of critically endangered eels have indeed been exported from Britain to Russia this year…
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is pushing the EU to move into defense.
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The return of the disrupter-in-chief would further destabilize an already weakened continent.
Russia’s foreign minister is expected to travel to Malta for an OSCE meeting in December.
Police wiretaps show the sprawling global nature of an investigation into Milan-based private detectives and their clients.
Social Democrat leader Vilija Blinkeviciute told reporters on Wednesday Paluckas was “best prepared” for the top job as she had opted not to take it on for health reasons.
Vilija Blinkeviฤiลซtฤ suggested that a former top Social Democrat would be better suited to lead the government.
The leader of the Social Democrats will announce her decision on Wednesday.
The FM has vocally supported Ukraine’s resistance against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion.
Social Democrat leader says spending should be no less than partyโs election manifesto pledge of 3.5% of GDPLithuaniaโs opposition Social Democratic party has promised to spend โas much money as is neededโ on security and defence to counter a potential…
Any power shift is expected to leave intact the NATO and EU member’s strong support for Ukraine amid security concerns about neighbouring Russia.
Opposition victory is unlikely to change the country’s pro-West and anti-Russia direction, however.
Uncertainty grips Georgia after a pivotal election handed a victory to the increasingly anti-Western ruling party.
The vote is likely to replace the ruling conservatives with a center-left coalition, while leaving intact the NATO and EU member’s strong support for Ukraine.
If the left-leaning Social Democrats (SD) succeed in forming a government, they are expected to maintain Lithuania’s hawkish stance against Russia and hefty defence spending.
Guterres not welcome in Kyiv after he shook hands with the Russian president.
“Macronโs ideas should now be revisited, better late than never.โ
Lithuaniaโs foreign minister tells POLITICO itโs time to revisit the idea of deploying EU troops to support Kyiv.
More and more member countries are clashing with Brussels over how to treat incoming migrants.
Would-be PM Vilija Blinkeviฤiลซtฤ has already begun coalition talks with pro-EU parties.
Professor Steve Peers, Royal
Holloway University of London
Photo credit: viewsridge,
via Wikimedia
commons
Introduction
Along with judgments on Afghan
women asylum seekers (discussed here)
and the status of Turkey as a โsafe third coun…
Early results showed the Social Democrats winning the popular vote of the election, which was dominated by concerns over living costs and potential threats from neighbouring Russia.
Social Democrats take lead in Lithuaniaโs general election with 90% of votes counted
Opinion polls show the main opposition Social Democrats led by Vilija Blinkeviciute ahead in the race with about 18% support.
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Her trip comes amid heightened tensions between Beijing and Taipei, while the EU-China trade war flares up.
Lithuania pleas for EU funds as it bears brunt of Russiaโs war
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Belarusian president and other officials are accused of crimes against humanity, including the mass forced deportations of refugees.
Lithuania has called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate alleged crimes against humanity by the regime of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, including forced deportations, persecution of opposition supporters and inhumane t…
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The diplomatic and cultural season opened on September 12, as the Baltic state fears the spread of the war to its territory.
Kyiv’s allies said the trip would have been a “propaganda win” for Vladimir Putin.
What the portfolios tell us about the EUโs power dynamics.
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Commission president hands out the top jobs in her new team.
Lithuania’s Andrius Kubilius was announced on Tuesday (17 September) as the bloc’s new defence and space commissioner, which is considered central to the EU’s ambitions to rearm faced with the threat from Russia.
He will work on developing the European defense union and boosting our investment in capacity,โ said Ursula von der Leyen.
Lithuanian Defence Minister Laurynas Kasฤiลซnas has called for an increase in defence spending to 4% of GDP, aiming to procure long-range air defence systems and other military equipment.
With the shadow of the war in Ukraine to its east, the Baltic nation is seeking to reaffirm its ties with the West. The Season of Lithuania in France, running from September to December, will be an opportunity for Lithuania to anchor itself in the Wes…
Visit will “create substantial reputational risks,” countries say.
Ursula von der Leyen is about to hand out key jobs in her team. Hereโs POLITICOโs version of the next Commission.
The Ryanair flight was forced to to land in Minsk, where opposition blogger Raman Pratasevich and his partner were arrested.
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Top Brussels diplomat Josep Borrell’s comments on Ukraine and the Middle East anger Budapest.
Eurogroup chief Paschal Donohoe will make a decision by next week, officials tell POLITICO.
Eurogroup chief Paschal Donohoe will make a decision by next week, officials tell POLITICO.
Eurogroup chief Paschal Donohoe will make a decision by next week, officials tell POLITICO.
Eurogroup chief Paschal Donohoe will make a decision by next week, officials tell POLITICO.
The request comes from Kyiv; many EU countries are wary of the risks.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine prompts some EU countries to rethink mandatory military service.
35-years after a seminal protest for freedom from the Soviets, an organizer accuses the West โ particularly Germany โ of โsuicidal naivety.โ
The Lithuanian defence line will form a part of the system of fortifications agreed by Baltic defence ministers in January in response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.