Lithuania in Italy

Celebriamo oggi, 11 marzo, il Giorno della Restaurazione dell'Indipendenza della Lituania: celebriamo il nostro Stato, il cammino che abbiamo percorso insieme e le vittorie che ancora conquisteremo. Siamo forti tanto quanto siamo liberi. Solo liberi diventiamo grandi 🇱🇹

🇪🇪🇫🇮🇮🇸🇱🇻🇱🇹🇵🇱🇷🇴🇸🇪 stand in solidarity with 🇺🇦. In a joint statement, we condemned the decision by the IPC to allow athletes from aggressor 🇷🇺 and its accomplice 🇧🇾to be part of the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games and to display their state symbols. urm.lt/en/news/928/st… 1/3

#OTD last year Lithuania took a decisive step toward energy independence: together with 🇪🇪🇱🇻, we disconnected from the Russian-controlled BRELL system & joined Continental Europe's electricity network. We gained full control of our power systems and strengthened energy security.

FM Kęstutis Budrys started discussions at #Snowmeeting2026

#Freedom #sausio13 🇱🇹

Il regime bielorusso ha lanciato l’ennesimo attacco ibrido contro l’Europa e il fianco orientale della NATO. Conosciamo già questo modus operandi, e lo affronteremo di nuovo. La Lituania non tollererà minacce sistematiche e violazioni territoriali.

The Belarusian regime has launched yet another hybrid attack against Europe and NATO eastern flank. We know the playbook, we'll deal with it again. Lithuania will not tolerate systematic threats and territorial violations.

🇪🇺🇱🇹 Questo pomeriggio Claudio Casini ha ricevuto @DaliaKreiviene, Ambasciatore di Lituania in Italia @LT_Embassy_IT. Al centro dell’incontro i temi di attualità europei, con particolare riferimento alla preparazione della presidenza del Consiglio UE della Lituania nel 2027.

🧵4/4 The cost of inaction is too high. If we fail to respond decisively, these provocations will evolve - finding new forms, targeting new vulnerabilities, and moving deeper into Europe. Deterrence starts with action. The time to act is now.

🧵3/4 We must learn the lesson - as long as hybrid provocations from Russia and #Belarus continue, it means our response is insufficient. The cost for our adversaries is too low - and that must change. We must show resolute unity and solidarity. When we act together, dictators back down. Here’s how: -Impose new sanctions on Belarusian actors behind airspace violations, introduce targeted tariffs, and establish a dedicated sanctions regime for hybrid threats -Continue the isolation of Belarusian and Russian regimes in international organisations& seek their responsibility -Accelerate the implementation of Eastern Flank Watch& European Drone Wall initiative -Activate #Frontex tools, deploy EU hybrid rapid response teams, and secure funding for border and infrastructure protection -Strengthen #NATO capabilities for infrastructure defense and intelligence sharing -Launch a strong regional response through coordinated action.

🧵2/4 We’ve seen this playbook before. From the weaponization of migration by the Lukashenko regime to the sabotage of Baltic Sea cables - each act is part of a broader strategy of disruption. But when the #EU and NATO respond with unity and precision, these tactics fail. Europe countered the migration crisis with coordinated sanctions, reinforced borders, and diplomatic pressure. #NATO launched Baltic Sentry to protect critical infrastructure after the cable sabotage. The lesson is clear: hybrid threats demand collective resolve and targeted action.

🧵 1/4 #NATO is facing a deliberate escalation of hybrid warfare from #Russia and its proxy, #Belarus. Last week, Russian military aircraft violated #Lithuanian airspace. Shortly after, dozens of helium balloons launched from Belarus entered our territory, moving towards major airports and disrupting civil aviation. These are not isolated incidents. #Germany, #Denmark, #Estonia, #Norway& #Poland have also reported incursions by drones, balloons and military aircraft - all disrupting civil aviation, threatening public safety and critical infrastructure. These are calculated provocations designed to destabilize, distract& test NATO’s resolve.

Lithuania🇱🇹 leads by example - allocating 5.38% of GDP to defence in the 2026 draft budget, becoming the first #NATO ally to hit the 5% mark. Our commitment to defence is resolute and will only grow stronger, whilst having criminal neighbours being constant only on one count – aggression against democracies. #WeAreNATO #StrongerTogether

"Fascinatingly, some of his artworks even resemble images captured by the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes, more than a century later." And now, Čiurlionis' music was heard in the ISS Cupola, 400 km above Earth. 2/2

On the 150th anniversary of the visionary Lithuanian composer and painter M. K. Čiurlionis, his symphonic poem "The Sea" was played aboard the International Space Station by NASA astronaut @JonnyKimUSA. 🛰️ 1/2

"History warns us to think twice. The Baltic nations know what 'only de facto' Russian occupation means — and how 'temporary' can last half a century." 🇱🇹🇱🇻🇪🇪 Foreign Ministers for FT: on.ft.com/4mEVyED

Putin's answer to yet another ceasefire proposal: a swarm of 100 drones raining down on #Ukraine overnight. Putin is playing his usual game - wielding terror as leverage and stalling for time to avoid any real path to peace. 
Talking peace while Russian bombs keep falling on Ukrainian civilians is a farce. The rules are clear - unconditional ceasefire from Monday or face new tougher sanctions. 
The fact that Putin rushed to hold a press conference less than 24 hours after European leaders, backed by the U.S., demanded an unconditional ceasefire tells us everything. This approach works - and we must stick to it. 
Now we must follow through. If Russian guns do not go silent by Monday, a new round of sanctions must be enforced - without hesitation.

A must-read: 'Putin fantasizes about another Yalta, where he can draw borders on Europe’s map, once again undermining international law and the right of nations in Russia’s neighbourhood to make their own choices and decisions. We must never allow this.' nytimes.com/2025/05/08/opi…

Pleasure to meet the minister @adolfo_urso visiting Vilnius. We‘re open to deeper cooperation with Italy, especially in defence & space industries, life sciences, and energy – fields of strategic importance and immense potential. Regaining European competitiveness, cutting the red tape, and closing the innovation gap are our shared tasks on the EU agenda – let's work on them together.

May 1945 did not mean the end of the war for Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. The USSR occupied us, used armed force to crush the efforts to restore the statehood, and attempted to distort history, hiding crimes. Such "liberators" are called occupiers. #WordsMatter #HistoryMatters