Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakalene commented on the meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska. She noted that Russia continues to bomb civilians in Ukraine, and Putin expressed veiled threats to Europe.
Lithuania is moving towards creating an echeloned line of defense with anti-tank ditches and fortifications. The project, worth 1.1 billion euros, will be integrated with the defense lines of Latvia and Estonia.
China is imposing sanctions against Lithuanian UAB Urbo Bankas and AB Mano Bankas. This is in response to EU measures against two Chinese financial institutions that cooperated with Russia.
A fire broke out in a garage near the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Vilnius. The electric motor of the fire protection system caught fire, but the blaze was extinguished in 10 minutes, and there were no casualties.
The foreign ministers of Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania met in Chernivtsi. They agreed to institutionalize the "Ukraine-Moldova-Romania" format and named it the "Odesa Triangle."
Lithuanian Prosecutor General Nida Grunskienė reported that the drone that flew in from Belarus contained an explosive charge. It was neutralized by Lithuanian military specialists at the training ground.
"Ukrzaliznytsia" for the first time organized the transportation of petroleum products from Germany to Ukraine in its own specialized tank cars. The entire route from Hamburg to the Ukrainian border was provided by the subsidiary UZ Cargo Poland Sp. z o.o.
An international coalition, led by Canada and Ukraine, called on Russia to unconditionally return abducted Ukrainian children. 38 countries, the Council of Europe, and the EU signed a joint statement, emphasizing the violation of international law.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda accepted the resignation of Gintautas Paluckas's government. Finance Minister Šadžius has been appointed as interim prime minister.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine announced an open competition for the position of head of the State Customs Service. The government also approved a medium-term plan for customs reform, which is part of the National Revenue Strategy until 2030.
The Lithuanian government, led by Gintautas Paluckas, decided to resign following questions about the prime minister's entrepreneurial past. Rimantas Šadžius will temporarily head the government until the president appoints a new prime minister.
Poland extended border control with Lithuania and Germany until October 4 due to the threat of illegal migration. The decision was agreed with partners and is aimed at closing the migration route.
In Kyiv, the Blue/Yellow warehouse, which stored humanitarian aid, was destroyed as a result of a Russian "Shahed" attack. The organization did not suffer serious losses and continues to raise funds for drones for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
A drone that flew in from Belarus was found at the Gaižiūnai training ground in Lithuania. According to preliminary data, it resembles a Russian Shahed-type drone.
The number of representatives of Georgia's ruling party "Georgian Dream" and related individuals who have fallen under Western sanctions has exceeded 230. Restrictions were imposed by the USA, Great Britain, the Baltic states, the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, and Ukraine.
Defense ministers of the Baltic states did not receive guarantees from the US regarding maintaining the number of American troops on NATO's eastern flank. The US promises to discuss a possible troop withdrawal with allies.
In Lithuania, the military has been searching for a drone that may have flown in from Belarus for the third day. The search is focused north of Kaunas, a helicopter has been involved, and over 100 people have been interviewed.
Ukraine's leading allies in Europe plan to approach the EU for tens of billions of euros in loans for joint procurement of weapons for Ukraine and to strengthen their own defense. The SAFE program envisages loans for weapons, financed by EU debt with a 45-year repayment period.
Nine countries have officially expressed interest in borrowing funds from the EU military procurement program SAFE by the deadline. Poland plans to request 25 billion euros, and Greece – at least 1.2 billion euros.
On the night of July 29, an unknown unmanned aerial vehicle fell in Minsk after being affected by electronic warfare systems. Local residents report that the UAV crashed into a house, then fell onto a car and exploded.
Lithuanian police received dozens of reports about an unknown object in the air, likely a drone from Belarus, spotted near Vilnius. The version that it is a disoriented Ukrainian air defense drone is being considered, and searches are ongoing in central Lithuania.
The Head of the President's Office commented on the Russian shelling of Kyiv on July 28, stating that Putin responds with war to calls for negotiations. He also emphasized Russia's testing of NATO's reaction with drone flights in the airspace of the Baltic countries.
On July 28, an unknown drone crossed Lithuanian airspace from Belarus, spotted at an altitude of about 200 meters near Vilnius. Lithuanian media suggest it could have been a Russian "Gerbera" drone, similar to "Shahed", or a smuggler's UAV.
Western sanctions after Russia's invasion of Ukraine are increasing the isolation of Kaliningrad, which has no land connection with Russia. This has led to overloaded sea routes and problems for small businesses in the region.
Lithuania plans to allocate up to 30 million euros for the purchase of American long-range Patriot air defense systems for Ukraine. This decision is part of an agreement under which European NATO members will buy American weapons for Kyiv.
Lithuanian intelligence records an active KGB of Belarus campaign on social networks aimed at recruiting Belarusian citizens abroad. KGB officers openly contact the diaspora, offering rewards and making threats.
The ICRC, together with the National Police of Ukraine and the Commissioner for Missing Persons, will conduct DNA sample collection in the Baltic and Northern European countries. Applications are accepted until July 31, 2025, to search for missing relatives.
A number of countries issued a joint statement, calling on Israel to cease hostilities in the Gaza Strip due to the suffering of the civilian population. The Israeli Prime Minister's advisor called this statement a "delusion" that sends Hamas a "wrong and dangerous signal" because it does not pressure the group.
Law enforcement agencies from over ten European countries, Canada, and the USA conducted a joint operation "Eastwood" against the NoName057(16) network. As a result, over a hundred computer systems were destroyed and seven arrest warrants were issued, including for six Russian citizens.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski expressed optimism about the swift adoption of the 18th EU sanctions package against Russia. This will happen despite public opposition from Slovakia, which blocked it the day before.
