Lithuania has finalised building a physical barrier (mostly a 4 m tall steel fence+concertina) on the entire length of border with Belarus (except where natural barriers such as rivers occur). It covered approximately 550km and cost €152mil.
When Lithuanians stood up against the Soviet empire in 1990-1991, people from Ukraine came to Vilnius carrying placards “Ukrainians are with you!”
Now, Lithuania stands firmly with Ukraine as it fights bravely for its freedom and dignity. 🇱🇹 🇺🇦
50% of Finns say their country - a non-NATO member - should help the Baltic states militarily in case of attack, less than a fifth are against it. Also 58% of men in Finland are willing to take up arms to defend 🇱🇹🇱🇻🇪🇪
Truly remarkable. Thank you 🇫🇮
The street in Vilnius where the Russian Embassy is located was renamed the 'Street of Heroes of Ukraine'.
I am sure the Embassy staff will be thrilled with their new contact details.
Let's not kid ourselves: Europe is facing its biggest war since WWII, dismantling what's left of the old security architecture. And this is not just another "remote conflict," even though some in the West still see it that way.
🧵1/5
I couldn't be prouder of my country, Lithuania 🇱🇹
Hosting the NATO Summit was an incredible achievement, showcasing our core strengths - safety, prosperity, and very talented people.
It speaks volumes about the remarkable potential we possess.
photo
@NATO
Lithuania became the first country in the EU to completely stop importing Russian gas (among those member states that have had Gazprom supplies)
Since 2014, 🇱🇹imports gas from various countries via LNG terminal. ‘Incidentally’ the name of the terminal in Klaipeda is Independence
Lithuanian media personality
@AndriusTapinas
has launched a crowdfunding campaign to buy a Bayraktar TB2 military drone for Ukraine - over €1,4 mln collected during the first 24 hours
President of Lithuania
@GitanasNauseda
today arrived in Kyiv and presented the President of Ukraine
@ZelenskyyUa
Lithuania’s highest state award, the Order of Vytautas the Great
Russian forces no longer have full control of Kherson, the first major Ukrainian city that Russian forces managed to capture as part of his invasion, a senior Pentagon official said on Friday
@nytimes
Lithuanian crowdfunding initiative launched by
@AndriusTapinas
to purchase Bayraktar drone for the Ukrainian military has passed a €4 million benchmark in just over 48 hours. Less than € 1 million still needed. Extraordinary.
Details on how to donate below.
Thousands of Lithuanians gather in front of the Russian embassy in Vilnius to condemn the aggression and express deep and heartfelt support to Ukraine🇺🇦
The project took around a year to complete.
It aims to stop flows of illegal migration that persist to this day from the Belarusian side. For instance, 125 people were turned back on Saturday alone.
Lithuania's President
@GitanasNauseda
says he received a new security and defense proposal from
@AndrzejDuda
on closer cooperation between 🇱🇹 and 🇵🇱.
Details remain undisclosed, but Nauseda suggests a gradual approach, possibly incorporating a 'rotational' component.
🧵5/5 There is a risk next year will make us even keener to return to the illusion of a "Gore-Tex Republic." While convenient in the short term, it is a perilous pathway.
The costs of Ukraine not being able to fight off the aggressor will be exponential, not only for Ukrainians
According to 🇱🇹 officials, in some cases the migrants are being aided by the Belarusian officers. For instance, people in masks help by cutting through the fence. That is why EU calls it a hybrid attack that intensified back in 2021.
Great meeting with
@McFaul
, former US ambassador to Russia and Professor at
@Stanford
, in Vilnius.
Numerous worrying geopolitical trends to discuss, yet a few glimmers of hope as well. Thanks
@USEmbVilnius
for hosting.
Coincidentally, President
@ZelenskyyUa
is also in 🇱🇹
Lithuania asks Russia’s ambassador to leave the country due to the aggression against Ukraine. Lithuania’s ambassador in Russia will also come back to Vilnius.
Formally it is a downgrade of diplomatic ties, though it is difficult to see how they could be maintained.
🧵2/5 Sociologist Stephan Grünewald once likened Germany to a "Gore-Tex Republic," alluding to warm and water-resistant winter clothing.
Amid dangerous developments, the West remained in its small bubble of comfort, believing itself immune to military threats and ignoring that
Lithuania commemorates the Day of the Defenders of Freedom, honoring the 14 lives lost to Soviet aggression in Vilnius on January 13, 1991.
Their sacrifice in the fight for freedom is not forgotten.
🇱🇹 🇱🇻 🇪🇪 🇺🇦
🧵3/5 The Russian invasion abruptly broke this false sense of security on Feb 24, 2022. Germany has done a lot to help Ukraine and strengthen NATO, not least by moving to permanently station a brigade in Lithuania.
But this is a much broader phenomenon extending beyond
🧵4/5 As we approach 2024, the old narrative comes out again, arguing that the fight of Ukraine is not something the West should care about.
The much-needed support for Ukraine is falsely presented as an obstacle to tackling domestic issues; the lack of political leadership is
Lithuania's civic society raised more than €5 mln in just a couple of days to purchase multifunctional tactical radars for Ukraine in a crowdfunding initiative 🇱🇹 🇺🇦
Lithuania 🇱🇹 intends to buy 8 HIMARS from the US 🇺🇸. The contract for purchase could be signed later this year, with the expected delivery in 2025, as per
@Lithuanian_MoD
This is a day that will come down as tragic in the history of Europe - and the World. The proud and independent nation of Ukraine was brutally attacked, putting the lives of millions of people at severe risk.
Inspired by the unity at the Lithuanian Armed Forces Day parade in Vilnius, where NATO allies, including Americans🇺🇸 with Abrams tanks, Germans🇩🇪 with Leopards, Dutch🇳🇱, Belgians🇧🇪 , Latvians🇱🇻, and others, joined forces.
#StrongerTogether
Vilnius, the capital of 🇱🇹, ranks 2nd in the mid-sized European cities of the future category (
@fDiIntelligence
)
Cities are ranked by their performance across five subcategories: economic potential; business friendliness; connectivity; human capital and lifestyle; and cost
Glad to announce that after the meeting I hosted with
@RTErdogan
&
@SwedishPM
, President Erdogan has agreed to forward
#Sweden
's accession protocol to the Grand National Assembly ASAP & ensure ratification. This is an historic step which makes all
#NATO
Allies stronger & safer.
Thus the fence will not alone resolve the issue of illegal migration. However, as proponents of the project such as
@LKasciunas
claim, it is a necessary addition to a broad set of tools to stop the flows.
Lithuania will increase the defense budget to 2.5% GDP in 2022, up from just over 2%. The proposal was endorsed by all political factions in the parliament.
A further increase to 3% is possible, though the government now focuses on the effective use of funds
In 2004, when Lithuania🇱🇹 joined the European Union🇪🇺, its GDP per capita (PPP) stood at 48% of the 🇪🇺 average.
In 2022, it reached 90%.
Data:
@EU_Commission
@elonmusk
The term "Nobel disease" reminds us that even the brightest minds may be prone to gaffe, especially while discussing topics they are not really familiar with
Prime Minister of Lithuania
@IngridaSimonyte
says she hopes European decision on SWIFT sanctions will be made very soon. ‘There are is no strong opposition to this anymore’
So I was included to the list of American citizens by the Russian MFA who are not permitted to travel to Russia, alongside
@JoeBiden
and others.
Never knew I had an American passport.
Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia unite the effort for the 'Baltic defense line,' planning to build anti-mobility installations along their borders with Russia and Belarus.
The project is said to include bunkers, support points, and distribution lines to enhance regional security.
Does anybody know where the territory of Russia’s recognized DNR and LNR begin and end? Because it is certainly not a given that it coincides with the current demarcation line in Putin’s mind
61% of Americans are in favor of using the US military force to defend Lithuania, Latvia or Estonia in case of Russian attack.
It is the strongest level of support since the polling was first conducted.
⚡️Crimean Bridge has been severely damaged following explosion.
According to first videos of the aftermath, published by witnesses, a part of the bridge had collapsed.
The video also depicts the burned out tanker train.
I was given the privilege by
@KoerberIP
@MunSecConf
to ask the first question during the panel with
@SecBlinken
I wondered how to ensure NATO’s Eastern flank remains secure at the time of Russia’s aggression.
Blinken told that the US will defend every inch of NATO’s territory.
What an impressive talk by
@Grybauskaite_LT
at
@Kings_College
@Cambridge_Uni
yesterday.
The former President of Lithuania was sharing her insights on security, geopolitics, and leadership.
It is a privilege she accepted an invitation to meet my coursemates at
@CambridgeJBS
and
This building was supposed to host the Moscow House in Vilnius, Lithuania. The project was scrapped.
Artists from Lithuania, Ukraine and Estonia gave it a new meaning with a project Do peremogi / Iki pergalės, led by Lina Šlipavičiūtė
Denmark said it was dispatching a frigate to the Baltic Sea and would send four F-16 jet fighters to Lithuania. Just another example of 🇱🇹 🇩🇰 friendship
#NATO
Lithuanian fans shout "Ukraine", while Ukrainians respond with "Lithuania" during 🇺🇦 vs 🇱🇹
#Euro2020Qualifiers
in
#Kharkiv
. A rare sight in football matches - but also a mark of strong bonds between the countries
#UKRLTU
Lithuania's crowdfunding effort, initiated by media personality
@AndriusTapinas
, takes another turn: with more than €5 mil. collected to buy a Bayraktar drone for Ukraine, Turkey has decided to give the drone for free and donate the funds for humanitarian purposes
The grid operators of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden pledged to help the Baltics if Russia suddenly stopped exporting electricity to them. Baltics are aiming to synchronize electricity grids with Europe, rather than with Moscow and Belarus at present, by 2025
🇩🇰🇫🇮🇳🇴🇸🇪🇱🇹🇱🇻🇪🇪
Macron on French TV this evening :
The war in 🇺🇦 is “existential…”If Russia were to win, life for the French would change. We would no longer have security in Europe. Who can seriously believe that Putin, who has respected no limits, would stop there?”
The USS Kearsarge (LHD-3), a flagship of the 22nd US Marine Expeditionary Unit, has arrived at the Lithuanian seaport of Klaipėda. It is the largest warship ever to visit Lithuania
#NATO
On the supposed reversal of
@OlafScholz
recent announcement to strengthen Germany's🇩🇪military presence in Lithuania🇱🇹 to a brigade-level (as per
@FT
). It is more complicated. A thread 🧵1/6
Konwój z amunicją, którą przekazujemy Ukrainie dotarł już do naszych sąsiadów. Wspieramy Ukraińców, jesteśmy solidarni i stanowczo sprzeciwiamy się rosyjskiej agresji.
Kazys Saja, a well-known Lithuanian writer, received the National Prize for Culture and Arts today - and immediately donated a significant portion of the prize money, €10k, to Ukraine.
One of many examples of individuals sending a strong message of support.
Germany to station 4,000 soldiers in Lithuania to strenghten NATO's eastern flank. 🇩🇪Def Min Boris Pistorius confirms the commitment, ending initial ambivalence on whether the brigade will be physically stationed in 🇱🇹.
No timeline, though; both sides must still do the homework.
Proud to see Lithuania 🇱🇹 among the top 3 financial, humanitarian, military contributors to Ukraine since the Russian military invasion started in Feb - and no less so to see neighboring Estonia 🇪🇪 and Poland🇵🇱 leading the way.
These are the examples to follow.
@kielinstitute
A US🇺🇸 battalion with Abrams tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles will be stationed in Lithuania on a rotation basis for at least until 2026.
The battalion has been in and out of Lithuania since 2019.
This is an important step that further strengthens deterrence in the region.
Lithuanian🇱🇹 sports federations and organizations - 64 in total, including 🏀 ⚽ 🎾 and others - have signed a declaration expressing opposition to the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in international competitions.
Antanas Terleckas, a dissident who kept the flame of Lithuania's🇱🇹 freedom and independence alive during the tough years of the soviet occupation, has passed away.
Symbolically he died on the day of Lithuania's Restoration of Independence in 1918.
Latvia and Estonia follow the Lithuanian example and announce their withdrawal from the "16+1”, an initiative intended to foster dialogue between Central/Eastern Europe and China.
The core thesis is that the EU should stand as a unit in its relationship with Beijing (27+1).
German🇩🇪 troops start arriving in Lithuania🇱🇹. Soon, a fully equipped German brigade of close to 5,000 troops will be permanently stationed in Lithuania
#StrongerTogether
The first soldiers of the 45th armored brigade
#Lithuania
have just landed in Vilnius, who will take care of the deployment of the entire military unit in Lithuania.
Wilkommen in Litauen!
Strong speech by the German Chancellor, condemning Putin’s aggression. Words are followed with deeds - 🇩🇪 stands up by imposing SWIFT sanctions, supporting Ukraine with weaponry, reaffirming support for NATO’s Article 5 and pledging to spend more than 2% of GDP on defense
Lithuanian parliament ratified the accession protocols necessary for Sweden and Finland to officially join NATO. It was an (almost) unanimous decision - only one MP voted against the 🇸🇪 membership.
Around 4,000 troops from
#NATO
allies will be stationed in Lithuania in the coming weeks, up from 3,000 currently.
@LithuanianGovt
also plans to spend additional € 250 mln on defense this year
Finland to introduce entry ban on Russian citizens holding EU’s tourist visa.
'There is no moral or ethical basis for Russians' holiday travel to continue normally', says foreign minister Haavisto.
Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland made the decision days earlier.
Lithuania plans to buy German Leopard 2 tanks for its new army division, as announced by the State Defence Council.
It was previously said Lithuania might need up to 54 tanks, but the exact number remains unspecified.
This aligns with the German plans to permanently station a
No wonder Putin demands an agreement with the West on non-enlargement of NATO to Ukraine. Since 2013, the support for NATO membership in Ukraine increased from ~20 to over 50%. The Kremlin has only itself to blame, as threats and annexations are the only tools left in its toolbox
Congratulations to Sweden and Finland that now have a clear path to join NATO. It is an essential step in strengthening the Alliance in general, and the Baltic sea region in particular
By announcing partial mobilisation, Putin basically admits complete failure of the 7-month aggression against Ukraine.
Kremlin clearly sought to avoid this unpopular step, but has no other options as Ukraine retakes occupied territories.
‘Special military operation’ no more.
The US president is usually considered as the leader of the free world. And that remains the case.
Yet it seems that over the last couple of days
@ZelenskyyUa
has taken up another role and became the chief defender of the free world
Olaf Scholz reaffirms Germany is ready to boost its military commitment to Lithuania to a brigade level. Also says NATO would defend every centimetre of its members’ territory, specifically referring to the Baltic states.
The honest admission is that we do not know much about what is happening in Russia.
Yet Putin talked about the end of Ukraine's statehood in Feb 2022; now he is on TV attempting to convince the viewers he maintains the power monopoly within Russia.
It is hard to see how the
Nineteen years ago today, Lithuania joined NATO. It’s hard to overestimate the significance of this step for Baltic security.
Paradoxically some partner countries were convinced to open the door for the enlargement because Russia did not seem threatening. Thus it did not seem
Russia's intention to unilaterally review maritime boundaries in the Baltic Sea aims to:
• Spread anxiety
• Pressure the West
• Test Western reactions
No reason to overreact to another hybrid measure. If Russia threatens, it's a NATO issue, not just 🇱🇹🇫🇮