Last week, the top news in Lithuania were prime minister Ingrida Šimonytė calling for continued friendly relationship with Russian-speakers, government decided to provide funding for medical assistance to Ukraine and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited Lithuania.
Four million euros in medical assistance to Ukraine
The Lithuanian government on Monday, February 28, approved medical assistance to Ukraine, valued at 4 million euros, to the fight ongoing Russian invasion. The support will come from the state reserve and the existing reserves of the Health Ministry. It will include face masks, surgical kits, bandages, surgery gowns, various kits to stop bleeding and treat bone broken bones, burn wounds, as well as various medication etc. The Transport Ministry is organising the transportation of this shipment to Ukraine, the minister added, adding that some 30 trucks would be needed.
Economist says EU sanctions will lead to Russia’s financial collapse
As the European Union announced new wide-ranging sanctions for Russia over its invasion into Ukraine last weekend, Lithuanian economist Žygimantas Mauricas says they might lead to Russia’s financial collapse over a couple of next weeks. In his words, based on a former Estonian army commander’s estimate that one day of war in Ukraine costs some 20 billion US dollars for Russia, so such a military campaign could last no more than a month as Russia’s whole annual budget stands at around 600 billion US dollars, and the country also has some 180 billion US dollars in its national welfare fund. In a month, Russia will be forced to print worthless roubles with a cosmic rate of, for example, 1,000 roubles for one euro, Mauricas said.
GIPL will be launched on May 1
Gas Interconnection Poland-Lithuania (GIPL), a gas pipeline connecting Lithuania and Poland, will be launched on May 1, Amber Grid and Gaz-System, gas transmission system operators of the two countries, announced. The construction of the gas pipeline had almost been finalised, the companies said. Between May 1 and September 30, regular capacity for transit from Poland to Lithuania would amount to 230,000 m3/hour, or 2.6 GWh, which translates into 2 bn m3/year, or 22.5 TWh.
The 508-km GIPL gas pipeline will connect Lithuania, the other Baltic countries and Finland’s gas market with the European Union. The pipeline stretches 165 km in Lithuania and 343 km in Poland.
Read also: BNN ANALYSES | Lithuania unleashes unprecedented humanitarian effort to aid Ukraine
Lithuania bans two more Russian TV channels
The Radio and Television Commission of Lithuania (LRTK) on Tuesday, March 1, banned rebroadcasting of two more Russian-language TV channels in the country for their incitement of war. The decision was made to ban the rebroadcasting of MIR24 and RBK-TV in the country for a period of five years, the commission said. Last week, the commission suspended the rebroadcasting of RTR Planeta, Rossiya 24, NTV Mir and Belarus 24 for a period of five years and the rebroadcasting of PBK and TVCi for three years. The European Union on Sunday announced severe new sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, closing its airspace to Russian aircraft and banning Russian state media outlets broadcasting in the bloc.
Fridge maker halts operations in Ukraine
Lithuania’s refrigerator manufacturer Snaigė, which is indirectly controlled by Russia’s Polair, has temporarily suspended operations of its Ukrainian subsidiary Snaigė Ukraina. The company said in a stock exchange release on Tuesday, March 1, that its sales revenue in Ukraine amounted to 3.5 million euros, or 11 percent of its total turnover.
Very few Lithuanian companies will stay in Russia
Very few from among more than 300 Lithuanian-owned companies in Russia will stay in that country, Arūnas Laurinaitis, chairman of Lithuania-Russia Business Council, said in an interview on Wednesday, March 2. At present, Lithuania’s key imports from Russia include mineral products, timber and energy resources, mostly natural gas. He pointed out that Lithuanian businesses had started downsizing their interests in Russia in the wake of Crimea annexation back in 2014.
Fewer than expected Ukrainians willing to come to Lithuania
Not many Ukrainians fleeing the war in their country are willing to come to Lithuania, Rustamas Liubajevas, commander of Lithuania’s State Border Guard Service, said on Wednesday, March 2. Lithuanian border guards handed over several dozen laptops, hard discs, means of communications and clothes for Ukrainian border guards facing an increase flow of war refugees willing to enter Poland. Hundreds of thousands of war refugees have fled to Poland, Romania and Moldova since the war broke out in Ukraine, and several hundred Ukrainian citizens have so far arrived in Lithuania.
German president visited Lithuania
President Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany visited Lithuania on Thursday, March 3. He held a meeting with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda and discussed support for Ukraine, measures to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank and response to Belarus-backed Russian military aggression against Ukraine. The presidents also visited the German-led NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group deployed to Rukla, the presidential office said in a press release. Germany leads NATO’s multinational battalion stationed in Lithuania. Last week, Berlin deployed 350 more troops in the country in response to mounting tensions in the region in the face of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
PM calls out against persecution of Russian-speakers
Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė called on people to refrain from persecution of Russian-speakers and any attacks against them amid Russia’s ongoing invasion in Ukraine. «We need to refrain from any action that could create in some way a basis for Putin’s propaganda to spread lies about some xenophobic or any type attacks in Lithuania,» she said on Thursday, March 3, in response to the desecration of monuments to Soviet troops in Jurbarkas and Kaišiadorys Districts. She also urged people not to use «prejudice or some stereotypes in your close environment», in the neighbourhood, at work and at school.
Lithuania push backs 31 irregular migrants on border with Belarus
Lithuanian border guards have in the past 24 hours turned away 31 migrants attempting to cross into the country from Belarus illegally, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) said on Friday, March 4. Lithuanian border guards have prevented a total of 357 irregular migrants from crossing the border from Belarus at non-designated places so far this year.
Lithuania reports 5,986 new COVID-19 cases
Lithuania has recorded 5,986 new coronavirus infections over the past 24 hours, official statistics showed on Friday, March 4. The 14-day infection rate has declined to 2,718 per 100,000 people, with the seven-day percentage of positive tests has inched up slightly to 47.2 percent. Some 69.7 percent of the Lithuanian population have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine jab so far.
Week in Lithuania: PM urges to remain friendly with Russian-speakers, cabinet backs aid to Ukraine, German President visits
