Lithuania

Marta Kos declared her support for the opening of Cluster 1 for Ukraine and Moldova in the EU. The European Commission positively assesses Ukraine's progress in reforms for accession.

In 2024, almost 50,000 Ukrainians received certificates of proficiency in the state language. 18 audio guides and theatrical productions were launched abroad.

Against the backdrop of Russian aggression against Ukraine, 16 countries in the EU have initiated a request to activate the "exception clause". This should facilitate the transition to higher defense spending at the national level.

In 2024, more than 93 million people in the EU were at risk of poverty, with Bulgaria and Romania being the leaders. The lowest rates were recorded in the Czech Republic and Slovenia.

National Security Advisor Waltz stated that the US can no longer subsidize European security due to the large debt. Aid to Ukraine should be provided under the leadership of Europe.

European armies are understaffed and underfunded, making it difficult to create a deterrent force in Ukraine. Many countries are not ready to provide soldiers.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that russia is preparing something in belarus, hiding behind military exercises. He emphasized that countries bordering the russian federation should be ready for any events.

The government of Montenegro is initiating a review of all honorary citizenships granted to foreigners. The decision was made following the case of a businessman who is implicated in a case involving the embezzlement of more than €2.2 million.

The Cabinet approved an agreement with Latvia on mutual recognition and exchange of national driver's licenses. A similar agreement has been in effect with Lithuania since October 2023.

Latvian companies will supply 12,000 drones within the framework of the Drone Coalition. Support for the coalition to Ukraine in 2024 amounted to EUR 1.8 billion.

The President of Lithuania condemned the possible recognition of Crimea as Russian, calling it a "bomb". He stressed that the opinion of Ukraine, which has suffered aggression, should be taken into account first and foremost.

Власти Вильнюса обнародовали план эвакуации на случай военного вторжения, гибридных атак, ядерных угроз и стихийных бедствий. План разработан на основе опыта Украины и городов США.

Russian intelligence services organized a series of arson attacks in Europe, using parcels with incendiary devices disguised as ordinary goods.

NATO fighters were scrambled twice to identify and escort Russian aircraft that violated flight rules. Il-20 and Su-24 were identified on April 14 and 18.

Lithuania is creating a procedure for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in schools. By August, they plan to develop tools to support schools and reduce the administrative burden.

The Ministry of Defense received a batch of equipment from the IT coalition, funded by Luxembourg and Iceland, worth almost 2 million euros. The delivery included access points, routers, charging stations and telephones.

British Air Force fighters took off from Poland twice in 48 hours to intercept Russian aircraft. Russian military planes were approaching NATO borders over the Baltic Sea and near Kaliningrad.

Lithuania is modernising the Vilnius-Augustów road in the Suwałki Corridor for civilian and military needs. These works, planned to be completed by 2028, will improve logistics and mobility.

The first Ukrainian LGTBQIA+ film festival in Kyiv caused criticism due to the overlap with Easter holidays. The organizers called it a coincidence, and the police recorded gatherings of negatively inclined youth near the cinema without violations.

The Constitutional Court of Lithuania has ruled that restricting partnerships to only between a man and a woman is unconstitutional. Same-sex couples will be able to register partnerships through the court until the Seimas passes a law.

The US voted against a UN resolution on cooperation with the Council of Europe, which condemns Russia's attack on Ukraine. The resolution mentions Russian aggression and the establishment of a tribunal.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine stated that they regard the words of the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania about a possible Russian attack on Easter as an assumption. Ukrainians were urged to respond to alarms.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania believes that Russia may commit a brutal attack on Easter. Such actions by the Kremlin may mobilize Western pressure on the Russian Federation.

Russian intelligence threatens the Baltic countries and Poland with consequences in the event of "NATO aggression" against the allied state.

In the Lithuanian city of Mažeikiai, vandals knocked down and broke four flagpoles with Ukrainian flags near the church. The police are investigating the circumstances of the incident and identifying those involved in the vandalism.

The Ukraine2EU program is unique because the EU does not usually finance the accession of other countries. Denmark, Sweden and Lithuania are jointly helping Ukraine on its path to EU membership.

The Ministry of Defense of Lithuania has allocated 10 million euros for the production of Ukrainian long-range weapons. This weapon is already being used effectively at the front.

The EU aims to agree on the 17th package of sanctions against Russia by May 20. No new proposals have been presented yet, but a smaller package with tough measures is expected.

At the EU Council of Ministers, Sybiha called for strengthening Ukrainian air defense, providing additional complexes and missiles. He also stressed the need to increase pressure on Russia.

The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry summoned a representative of the Russian Embassy in Vilnius over the attack on Sumy. The initiators must be held accountable for the terrorist attack, and all those who work for the Kremlin bear responsibility.