LRT English Newsletter – August 28, 2026.
Or November 2021, to be precise. Then, America’s CIA chief travelled to Moscow to warn Russia not to attack Ukraine. Now, the successor to the CIA chief did the same, travelling to Moscow on August 25, according to Politico and WSJ, to warn the Kremlin not to attack the Baltic states.
Why does it, arguably, feel ominous? American intelligence previously warned of a potential attack against a Baltic country or Poland as Russia is increasingly bogged down in Ukraine, with this being one of the few escalation steps left at Vladimir Putin’s disposal. Later, Baltic and Polish representatives confirmed they had received the warning from Washington.
Does this mean tanks rolling toward Vilnius? Not quite, the intelligence says. The threat could range from cyberattacks to drone attacks to a limited military operation. Meanwhile, Lithuanian officials downplayed the importance of the Moscow visit both publicly and in private, saying there was no imminent threat – even if Baltic commissioners in Brussels asked for help in a letter to Ursula von Der Leyen, as seen by Radio Free Europe (RFE/RL).
Coincidingly, Lithuania’s chief of defence announced on Sunday that the country had deployed one of its two NASAMS air defence systems – which have been successfully intercepting Russian missiles and drones in Ukraine – near Vilnius. And in light of the recent drone incursions, Vilnius municipality has fronted 1 million euros to upgrade shelters in apartment blocks.
STORM DAMAGE
A storm at home did significant damage over the last weekend, with some towns and villages still without power or water. The authorities have now declared a nationwide emergency to dedicate more resources to shore up the affected farmers, with Polish infrastructure teams also stepping in to help with restoring power. Critics have raised alarms, saying this should have been a wake-up call to better prepare for attacks on infrastructure. Tellingly, the demand for generators grew across the country.
DADDY TRUMP
Lithuania has prepared answers to a questionnaire sent by Washington, which probes the country’s alignment with the United States. The Defence Ministry refused to comment, saying the contents were confidential, but Lithuania’s ambassador to NATO previously said the responses would “please” the US. We do know from Bloomberg’s reporting that such a request was met with outcry in some NATO capitals, where it was seen as demanding ideological loyalty.
NEPAL FLOODS
A Lithuanian national is confirmed missing after the devastating flash floods, with the apocalyptic images seen by most of us by now. Another Lithuanian citizen was also in Nepal, but is safe.
ECONOMY UPDATES:
– Wages continue to grow.
– Girteka is moving some operations out of Lithuania.
– Lithuania is mapping its expat businesses in the UK, get involved.
– Apparently, a family need to earn 3,500 euros after tax to live comfortably in Lithuania.
EDITOR’S PICKS:
– There’s a new app for all your public transport and parking needs in Vilnius.
– Here are the stories of people still crossing back and forth between Lithuania and Russia.
– Lithuania is preparing schools to host German children.
– The military ground project in southeastern Lithuania is grinding ahead, with some locals feeling they are still in limbo.
– An American dream went sour for one Lithuanian family, as they faced xenophobic attacks and uncertainty.
– And cricket is now apparently a thing in Lithuania.
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