Embassy of Lithuania in Sweden

A productive meeting with 🇸🇪Prime Minister @SwedishPM Ulf Kristersson in Stockholm. We discussed Lithuania’s upcoming EU Council Presidency priorities, Baltic Sea regional security, including hybrid threats, continued strong support for Ukraine, and the EU Multiannual Financial Framework. The security of the Nordic–Baltic region is inseparable. Sweden’s NATO membership strengthens the Baltic Sea security architecture and reinforces our collective deterrence and defence capabilities, further consolidating the Nordic–Baltic area as a single strategic security space. Lithuania remains committed to close cooperation with Sweden to strengthen European unity, resilience, and a rules-based international order, as well as to coordination within the NB8 format.

My visit to 🇸🇪 begins with a meeting with His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf. In a warm conversation, we reflected on the close historical and cultural ties between Lithuania and Sweden – ties that have helped shape our region over centuries. These connections continue today through cultural cooperation, academic exchange, and a strong Lithuanian community in Sweden.

March 25, 1949. The Soviet regime’s Operation ‘Priboj’ deported nearly 94,000 people from the #Baltics — 34,000 of them from #Lithuania, including teachers, doctors, farmers, clergy, and freedom fighters. Over the next decade, Lithuania faced 35 mass deportations. A total of 132,000 people, mostly women and children, were exiled to uninhabitable regions of Russia. Many men who resisted were executed. Fewer than half of the deportees ever returned. The crimes of communism never faced a true ‘Nuremberg’. This lack of accountability allowed the same imperial mindset to survive — and today, Russia’s aggression against #Ukraine shows the consequences of unpunished crimes. Remembering the victims is a political necessity — to ensure such atrocities never happen again. Photo©️Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights, Vilnius

At the #BSSC meeting today in Warsaw, together with my fellow Foreign Ministers of the Baltic Sea countries, we addressed the most pressing security challenges shaping our region and beyond — because today, no threat is distant. From Iran’s nuclear brinkmanship and regional aggression to its support for Russia’s war against #Ukraine, unchecked destabilisation undermines security in the Middle East, Europe, and globally. De‑escalation, firm pressure, unity and keeping focus on 🇺🇦 are essential. At the heart of Europe’s security stands Ukraine. Supporting Ukraine is an investment in a just and lasting peace. Europe must play a central role in the peace process, standing firmly with 🇺🇦and until its sovereignty is fully restored. There can be no peace about Europe without Europe — and no peace without Ukraine — because every day of delay weakens our collective security. These realities reinforce a fundamental truth: peace rests on strength. #NATO cannot rely on paper commitments — deterrence demands real investment. Lithuania leads by example, allocating 5.38% of GDP to defence. Allies must reach at least 3.5% and move decisively toward 5%. Strength also means readiness. From air defence to the protection of critical infrastructure, NATO’s eastern flank must be fully prepared. Missions like #BalticSentry and #EasternSentry show that resolve delivers results — when it is matched with capabilities and sustained political will.

The Baltic Sea States Family in Warsaw today. Our strenght is our unity. Thank you @radeksikorski for the warm welcome! 🇵🇱🇮🇸🇳🇴🇸🇪🇫🇮🇪🇪🇱🇻🇱🇹🇩🇪🇩🇰🇪🇺

Spoke today with 🇰🇼 FM H.E. Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al‑Ahmad Al‑Sabah, to reaffirm #Lithuania’s unwavering solidarity following the recent unprovoked Iranian attacks on the territory of Kuwait. I conveyed Lithuania’s strongest condemnation of this aggression. Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is essential. 🇱🇹 stands with #Kuwait, our Gulf partners, and all countries affected by Iranian aggression, and calls on Iran to immediately cease military actions that further destabilize the region. @MOFAKuwait

Lithuania strongly condemns the unprovoked Iran’s attacks against Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. National sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected both in the Middle East and in Europe. We call for an immediate end to such destabilizing aggression.

Feb 24: A rally in Stockholm marked 4 years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine 🇺🇦 Swedish leaders, artists, foreign diplomats & civil society showed strong support. Ukraine defends its own freedom — and Europe’s 💙💛 Разом до перемоги!

On 19 Feb, Lithuania’s Restoration of Independence Day 🇱🇹 was marked in Stockholm. Amb. Linkevičius highlighted growing 🇱🇹–🇸🇪 ties, especially in security & defence, and thanked 🇸🇪 for its steadfast support for Lithuania’s pursuit of independence.

RADAROM! is back and raising funds for Ukrainian robot squads. Lithuania has launched a solidarity campaign to help protect Ukrainian soldiers with advanced frontline robotics. Donate until 24 Feb 👉 radarom.lt Freedom is worth fighting for. ✊

January 13 – Day of the Defenders of Freedom! 35y ago, thousands of unarmed Lithuanians stood against Soviet tanks to defend their freedom. That night, 14 civilians were killed and 700 were injured. January 13 is a powerful reminder of why freedom must never be taken for granted.

On the eve of Freedom Defenders Day, Lithuania remembers the victims of the January 1991 events. That sacrifice will never be forgotten. Bonfires by the TV Tower mark the memory of that night. 35 years ago, our whole nation stood united in defense of freedom.

Lithuania stands in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland. Any decisions concerning Denmark and Greenland are only for them to make. Territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principles of international law. They are essential to global peace and stability. Lithuania is ready to work together with our partners and allies to strengthen the Arctic security.

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.

On 25 Nov. Ambassador of Lithuania L. Linkevičius hosted an NB8 discussion with 🇱🇹MFA PolDir L. Talat-Kelpša, 🇸🇪MFA Sate Secretary D. Hartelius, NB8 Ambassadors and other guests. Participants stressed shared values, security cooperation and steadfast support for Ukraine. 🇺🇦

On 24 November, the Embassy of 🇱🇹 in Stockholm welcomed the Speaker of the Seimas, J. Olekas. At the Crimea Platform summit, the Speaker voiced Lithuania’s support for Ukraine’s EU membership by 2030. 🇺🇦

Last night, Russia launched yet another massive attack on #Ukraine - likely the biggest blow to Ukraine’s gas infrastructure since the start of Russia’s full-scale war. Putin keeps cynically practicing his “energy diplomacy”, powered by missiles: destroying power plants, bombing pipelines, and aiming to leave Ukrainians to freeze before winter. Pure terror weaponized through cold and darkness. It’s time to strike back - by hitting the entire Russian energy sector, ramping up support for 🇺🇦 energy infrastructure, seizing and using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine, providing the weapons Ukraine needs to defend itself, also by giving Ukraine the means to destroy Russia’s missile and drone production facilities. The #EU and member states are in a position to use its instruments and reach out to their energy sectors and those in the third countries to identity every spare transfomer and generator that Ukraine critically needs at the moment. Keep trying, Putin - darkness won’t hide your defeat. No missile can extinguish Ukraine’s light or break its spirit - not even yours. #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦

🧵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.