LRT English Newsletter – August 22, 2025.
Lithuania’s opposition Conservatives have proposed building a drone wall to better guard the country’s (and NATO’s) border with Belarus and Russia’s Kaliningrad. This follows two breaches of Lithuanian airspace by Russian drones, as well as the ongoing talk of the threat next door – especially as Russia gears up for the Zapad drills in Belarus in September.
The country’s defence minister will also meet with NATO’s top commander to discuss defences against drones – recall, a similar type of drone that entered Lithuania last month also flew inside Poland. This is all part of the spillover from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, officials said.
Meanwhile, Lithuania has now signalled readiness to contribute troops for a potential peacekeeping operation in Ukraine, with the president’s office saying the country could send several hundred soldiers.
In related news – what would happen to our food supply if war does knock on our doors? Lithuania is mapping out plans on wartime food security – read here.
CABINET RESHUFFLE
The upcoming government will see a cabinet reshuffle (read here), but details remain scarce - the newly invited Farmers and Greens Union (LVŽS) presented a list of demands, which sparked another meeting of the potential coalition to smooth over the differences. Inga Ruginienė’s nomination for prime minister was brought before the parliament on Thursday, with her confirmation due to be put to the vote next week. Rugnienė, for her part, said she was there to “restore stability”.
BAD OPTICS
Lithuania’s Defence Minister Dovilė Šakalienė received campaign funds from two individuals representing armament firms – the same ones that are now competing for government contracts. The ministry and Šakalienė dismissed the criticism, saying the donations had no impact on tendering decisions.
UKRAINE TALKS
The Lithuanian president welcomed US security guarantees for Ukraine after news of Washington shifting its initial position first became public. Later, however, the US said any security guarantees provided by America would be “minimal”, damping earlier hopes and talks of European boots on the ground in Ukraine.
ECONOMY UPDATES:
Here are some economy updates and reads from the past week:
– Lithuanian Post and Omniva are halting shipments to the US over unclear customs rules.
– Inflation in Lithuania has stayed above the EU average in July.
– Revolut has shaken up Lithuania’s banking sector.
BELARUS BORDER
Lithuania has put, or rather enacted, limits on the number of buses going to and from Belarus. Previously, officials warned of recruitment attempts by security services, coercing travellers to conduct espionage activities. The question of frequent cross-border travel was also previously politicised.
Now, in the run-up to the Zapad military drills in Belarus and Russia, as well as the two drone incidents, Lithuania has closed parts of the airspace on the country’s border with Belarus. This will allow the military to better respond to any potential airspace violations, the Defence Ministry said.
EDITOR’S PICKS:
– Demolition work began Monday on a former kindergarten in Vilnius to restore the territory of the historic Great Synagogue
– A few years ago, home delivery of farm produce was a booming business in Lithuania. Today, it appears to have lost some of its shine.
– Here’s what it’s like to discover a planet.
– And you will now be able to keep your liquids at the Kaunas and Vilnius airports, yay.
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