From March to July 2025, the Responsible Gambling Center (RGC) team worked on the preparatory stage of implementing a large-scale international experience exchange program on shaping responsible gaming policy.
German manufacturer Rheinmetall is opening Europe's largest artillery shell production plant near Hanover on August 27. The enterprise will produce up to 350,000 shells per year after reaching full capacity in 2027.
German leaders are considering the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine after a peace agreement is reached. This issue is key for Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who seeks to restore Germany's leadership.
The Lithuanian Seimas approved Inga Ruginiene as prime minister. She plans her first visits to Ukraine and Poland.
Lithuania and Ukraine have signed an agreement on joint production of Ukrainian weapons on Lithuanian territory. Lithuania also intends to invest up to 30 million euros in the PURL initiative.
Estonia blames Russian jamming for a drone explosion on its territory. It was likely a Ukrainian drone that deviated from its course due to Russian electronic interference in the Baltic region.
Finland is fortifying 200 km of its border with Russia, erecting a strong fence to prevent illegal migration. This decision was made after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and Finland's accession to NATO.
Lithuanian intelligence considers the probability of hybrid attacks during the "West-2025" exercises to be low, but does not rule out individual provocations.
Ukraine and Lithuania signed a Letter of Intent regarding joint production of defense products. This involves launching joint ventures, particularly for the creation of long-range drones.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy celebrated the 34th anniversary of Ukraine's Independence, hosting delegations from Canada, Sweden, Denmark, Romania, Lithuania, Latvia, and Great Britain. He thanked international partners for their support in the war and emphasized the heroism of Ukrainian soldiers.
The Criminal Service of the Lithuanian Customs Department uncovered a scheme to circumvent sanctions against Russia, organized by 11 individuals. A company from Kaunas supplied water treatment equipment to Russian oil enterprises through Portugal, Bulgaria, and Turkey.
NATO's easternmost countries are experiencing a sharp increase in radio and satellite jamming, affecting air and sea communications. Lithuania accused Russia of a 22-fold increase in GPS jamming.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is justifying himself over interpretations of his words regarding the possible deployment of the Bundeswehr to Ukraine. He emphasized that no decisions on troop deployment have been made, and his comments were taken out of context.
Lithuania, a NATO member, has declared a no-fly zone near the capital Vilnius along the border with Belarus due to the threat from drones. This will allow the armed forces to respond to airspace violations.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda stated the country's readiness to provide peacekeeping troops and military equipment for a possible mission in Ukraine. Lithuania's participation in peacekeeping operations will not differ in scale from the mission in Afghanistan.
The Netherlands is sending two Patriot systems and 300 troops to Poland to guard a NATO logistics hub that supports Ukraine. This deployment of multi-layered air defense is intended to protect NATO and deter Russian aggression.
Air traffic was temporarily suspended at Vilnius Airport due to the detection of a drone. It was later found that the drone belonged to a private security company.
Latvia, Finland, and Lithuania have banned or restricted real estate purchases by Russian citizens for national security reasons. Estonia, Norway, and the state of Texas are also considering similar measures.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys calls on the EU to prepare the 19th package of sanctions against Russia. He emphasizes the need to increase military support for Ukraine and accelerate its accession to the EU.
Leaders of eight Nordic and Baltic states reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine and Donald Trump's efforts to end Russian aggression. They demand a ceasefire, security guarantees for Ukraine, and the return of abducted children.
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.
