Vilnius
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.
Lithuania officially notified the UN of its withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines. This decision was made due to the perception of Russia as a long-term existential threat, with the aim of using all means to protect the population and territory of NATO.
NATO allies have agreed to tone down criticism of Russia in a statement to be signed by leaders, according to a leak to The Telegraph.
The Latvian Saeima approved a statement in support of Ukraine's earliest invitation to NATO ahead of the summit in The Hague. Inviting Ukraine to the Alliance will be a significant signal of its clear path to membership.
A brown bear roamed freely through Vilnius for two days, but hunters refused to follow the government's order to kill the animal, considering it non-aggressive.
Due to the ongoing war, young Ukrainian women are increasingly choosing universities abroad, particularly in Poland. They aim to avoid the stress of air raids and see better career opportunities outside of Ukraine.
Ukraine will not receive an invitation to NATO at the summit in The Hague next week. The issue is not on the agenda, no breakthrough decisions are expected.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte believes that negotiations with the Russian Federation are necessary to test Putin's intentions. He emphasized the importance of US efforts in this process to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine.
The Alliance seeks to fill a key gap in response to the threat of Russian aggression. Defense ministers of member states will discuss this issue in Brussels.
Romanian President Nicușor Dan stated that his country will continue to support Ukraine, as it is a matter of its own security. The issue of military assistance will be discussed in Odesa on June 11.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy met for the first time with the new President of Romania, Nicușor Dan, and invited him to participate in the Ukraine – South-Eastern Europe summit, which will take place in Odesa. Romania assured of its support for Ukraine's membership in the EU and NATO.
The Polish President emphasized the importance of strengthening NATO through increased defense spending and closer cooperation with the United States, as well as supporting Ukraine in its integration into European structures.
The NATO Summit should send a clear signal of support for Ukraine and renew commitments to collective defense. Lithuania will increase defense spending to 5% of GDP in 2026.
The President of Ukraine announced the completion of negotiations in Istanbul. According to him, a new large-scale exchange of prisoners between Ukraine and Russia is being prepared.
Putin has no veto power over NATO decisions. It is important to reaffirm that the Alliance is strong and Europe will not renounce its security.
Zelenskyy stated that in the event of no results from the meeting of Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul, it is necessary to urgently introduce the 18th package of sanctions. The sanctions should be concentrated on the oil and banking sectors.
NATO Secretary General stated that peace is impossible without lasting security for Ukraine. Support for Ukraine to win the war will be discussed at the summit in Vilnius.
President Zelenskyy stated that Russia's attempts to combine a counteroffensive with diplomacy are an opportunity for Ukraine to end the war. He emphasized the importance of supporting defense capabilities.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine hopes for positive decisions in Istanbul regarding a complete ceasefire and the return of prisoners. He emphasized the importance of these issues.
The Bucharest Nine summit will discuss providing Ukraine with everything it needs to fight. The Russian Federation is a long-term threat to NATO, so it is important to make the necessary decisions.
The President of Ukraine has arrived in the capital of Lithuania to participate in the summit of the "Bucharest Nine" countries and the Nordic countries. Bilateral meetings with summit participants are also planned.
The NATO summit has been shortened to two days, and the final declaration may not contain any mention of Ukraine and Russia. The question of inviting Zelensky remains open.
Germany is increasing its military presence in Lithuania, expanding its tank brigade to 5,000 troops by 2027. This is a response to Russian aggression and the strengthening of NATO's eastern flank.
Lithuania has filed a lawsuit with the International Court of Justice of the United Nations against Belarus, demanding compensation for organizing the illegal flow of migrants. Vilnius accuses the Lukashenko regime of using migrants as a political weapon.
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.
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.
In the Podilskyi district of Kyiv, two men threw an incendiary mixture into the депутат's reception room. They were detained, and the investigation suspects cooperation with Russian special services for money.
The Lithuanian prosecutor's office stated that Russian special services are behind the arson attacks in Vilnius and Warsaw. Underage Ukrainian citizens, who were recruited for money, are involved in the crimes.
Three people were released from Belarusian prisons, including a US citizen and journalist Andrei Kuznetsik. The Radio Liberty journalist was reunited with his family in Vilnius after three years in prison.
The President of Ukraine has awarded Warsaw the “City of Savior” distinction for helping Ukrainian refugees and supporting Ukraine. Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski received the award during Zelenskyy's visit to Poland.