Newly unsealed Jeffrey Epstein documents have revealed correspondence and financial transactions involving several prominent Lithuanian figures. These include businessman Valdas Petreikis, model Dite Antanaityte, and violinist Justina Auskelyte, with details emerging about their interactions and financial ties to the late financier.
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have signed a letter of intent to create a joint 'Military Mobility Zone' aimed at standardizing border crossing procedures and accelerating the movement of military equipment and personnel across the region. This initiative, signed on January 30, 2026, seeks to enhance regional defense and NATO's eastern flank security.
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have signed a letter of intent to establish a joint 'Military Mobility Zone' in Tallinn. This initiative aims to standardize border crossing procedures and facilitate the rapid movement of military equipment and personnel, akin to a 'military Schengen zone,' bolstering regional defense and NATO's eastern flank.
Lithuania has proposed to Poland the creation of Europe's first cross-border economic zone in the strategically vital Suwałki Gap, focusing on defense and technology industries. The initiative, put forth by Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, aims to stimulate economic development and enhance regional security. The proposal has been 'received positively by both sides'.
Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has confirmed the relocation of her office and some staff from Vilnius, Lithuania, to Warsaw, Poland. The move, effective January 30, 2026, is attributed to a 'changing security situation' and 'reduced security' in Lithuania, which she stated posed a risk to her and her team. This decision follows Lithuania's downgrade of her security status in late 2025.
Presidents Karol Nawrocki of Poland, Gitanas Nausėda of Lithuania, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, alongside their First Ladies, gathered in Vilnius to mark the 163rd anniversary of the January Uprising. The event underscored a shared history of resistance against Russian oppression and highlighted contemporary concerns regarding Russia's enduring threat to European security.
Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska visited Vilnius, Lithuania, on January 25, 2026, engaging with representatives from Lithuanian universities. The discussions centered on their involvement in the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies, an initiative aimed at strengthening Ukraine's academic presence worldwide and countering Russian narratives. Four prominent Lithuanian institutions have joined the coalition.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda suggested a joint security agreement for the Arctic and North Atlantic could resolve the US-Europe dispute over Greenland. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Nausėda emphasized that the ongoing row distracts from the war in Ukraine and inadvertently benefits Russia, urging de-escalation.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has suggested a joint security agreement for the Arctic and North Atlantic to de-escalate the US-Europe dispute over Greenland. Speaking at the World Economic Forum, Nauseda warned that the ongoing row distracts from the war in Ukraine and plays into Russia's strategic interests, emphasizing the critical juncture for NATO's future.
The Lost Shtetl Museum, Lithuania's largest institution dedicated to Lithuanian Jewry and Shoah education, recently opened in Šeduva on September 20, 2025. It aims to preserve the memory of vanished Jewish towns and confront the nation's difficult past.
Estonia and Lithuania have issued severe weather warnings, advising against non-essential travel due to blizzards, heavy snowfall, and icy roads. The region is experiencing an Arctic blast, with temperatures plummeting and significant travel disruptions reported across both countries. Authorities urge caution and adherence to advisories.
Lithuania's Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis has called for stronger Baltic cooperation on critical infrastructure security following the recent severing of an optical cable between Lithuania and Latvia in the Baltic Sea. The incident, which occurred on January 2, 2026, near Liepaja, is under investigation amidst heightened regional concerns over hybrid threats.
Lithuania is grappling with a severe infestation of invasive Spanish slugs (Arion vulgaris), causing extensive damage to crops, gardens, and public green areas. Despite chemical treatments, entire fields are being destroyed, with farmers reporting significant losses. The government has allocated €840,000 for control efforts, though some officials deem it insufficient to combat the rapidly spreading pest.
Lithuania has approved a new Intelligence Law, set to take effect on February 1, 2026. The legislation grants significantly expanded powers to the country's security services, including the ability to detain and search individuals and property without a prior court warrant, citing an ongoing 'Russian threat' as justification.
Lithuania has signed a €252 million contract with KNDS France for a second batch of 30 CAESAR Mk II wheeled howitzers, bringing its total order to 48 units. This acquisition makes Lithuania the second-largest operator of the advanced artillery system after France, significantly enhancing its long-range firepower and defense capabilities.
Lithuania's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kęstutis Budrys, has strongly condemned Russia's abduction of more than 50 Ukrainian civilians from the village of Hrabovske in the Sumy region, labeling the act a war crime. The incident, which occurred on December 19-20, involved mostly elderly residents forcibly taken to Russian territory. Vilnius demands their immediate release and safe return.
Ukraine's military intelligence head, Kyrylo Budanov, has stated that Russia has accelerated its plans to occupy the Baltic states, including Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, by 2027. This revised timeline, originally set for 2030, highlights escalating regional tensions and has prompted increased preparedness in the Baltic nations and strong warnings from NATO.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys has asserted that the Soviet Union's unpunished occupation of the Baltic states contributed to Russia's current aggression. Speaking in The Hague, he emphasized the critical need for reparations for Ukraine, drawing parallels with Lithuania's own historical experience.
Vytautas Sinica, chairman of Lithuania's National Alliance, has asserted that Europe must reinforce its identity, including Christian and national foundations, to avoid disappearance amid challenges like mass migration and external pressures.
A Lithuanian court has convicted Remigijus Žemaitaitis, leader of the governing Nemuno Aušra party, for inciting hatred against Jews and minimizing the Holocaust. He was fined 5,000 euros for statements made in 2023, which included false accusations and antisemitic remarks.
