Russia has escalated again in the Black Sea, attacking a commercial vessel off Romania’s coast. One sailor was killed, others remain missing. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families. Attacks on civilian shipping are attacks on freedom of navigation and the rules-based international order. #Lithuania stands firm with #Romania. The answer must be clear: more pressure, tougher sanctions, and stronger investment in the security and resilience of the Eastern Flank of #NATO and the whole Europe. Russia’s aggression must come at a higher cost.#

#Lithuania fully supports #Austria in its decision to expel Russian diplomats engaged in activities incompatible with the Vienna Convention.   Russian spies have no place in Europe. They pose a real threat to our security. We must continue showing Kremlin – not with words, but with actions – that their malign activities will not go unchecked and unpunished.

Shameful decision by the @WorldPentathlon to strip #Lithuania of its World Cup event for refusing to turn a blind eye to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. This sets a dangerous precedent and sends a fundamentally wrong message. Lithuania’s position has been clear from day one: we will not help normalise the participation of representatives of aggressor states — Russia and Belarus — in international sport. Russia continues its brutal war against #Ukraine, while Belarus remains complicit in enabling that. The EU must tighten restrictions on Russian and Belarusian athletes competing under national colours, expand visa bans and sanctions, and cut support for those enabling state-sponsored propaganda. Lithuania will never normalise aggression. We will stand with Ukraine not only when it is convenient, but especially when it is not.

Within hours today, #Lithuania faced two serious security incidents. Overnight, a sabotage attempt targeting Starlink infrastructure near Vilnius was thwarted. Its purpose was clear: to undermine a capability critical to #Ukraine’s defence and civilian communications. This morning, an unidentified UAV violated Lithuanian airspace, posing a risk to our citizens and their property. Both incidents are a direct consequence of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its wider repercussions for European security. Hybrid attacks, sabotage, and airspace incursions threaten critical infrastructure, spread fear, and seek to undermine European support for Ukraine. Lithuania supports, and will continue to support Ukraine in exercising its inherent right of self-defence, in full accordance with Article 51 of the #UN Charter. We also urge Russia to immediately cease its aggression against Ukraine. We remain vigilant. Attacks against our critical infrastructure will be investigated, exposed, and met with resolve. We stand with our Allies and with Ukraine.