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Ukraine receives first F-16 jets, officials say

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The first batch of much-anticipated F-16 jets has arrived in Ukraine, according to Lithuania’s foreign minister and a U.S. official on Wednesday. This delivery is expected to aid Ukraine in restoring its weakened air force. The F-16s, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, have long been sought by Ukraine due to their significant firepower and widespread availability. Equipped with a 20mm cannon, these fighter jets can carry a variety of bombs, rockets, and missiles. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis remarked on X (formerly Twitter) that “F-16s in Ukraine. Another impossible thing turned out to be totally possible.” A U.S. official, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed that the delivery has been completed.

Denmark has pledged a total of 19 jets, while the Netherlands has committed to delivering 24 aircraft. Both nations have played a key role in forming an international coalition to supply Ukraine with F-16s. Norway has also announced it will donate six F-16 fighter jets. Ukrainian pilots and ground personnel have undergone training with the help of Western allies for several months.

As Ukraine has fought against Russia’s full-scale invasion that began in February 2022, it has relied on a limited fleet of Soviet-era aircraft. Ukrainian officials consider the addition of F-16s a crucial enhancement for their Air Force. However, analysts and officials indicate that while the F-16s will strengthen Ukraine’s capabilities, they are unlikely to be a decisive factor in the ongoing conflict.

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Before the EU election, Poland’s PM issued a dire warning: “Vote or face war.”

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Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk urges voters to avoid war by voting in the European elections. Emphasizing security and the threat of Russian aggression, Tusk’s Civic Coalition stresses the importance of a united EU stance against Moscow, particularly with pro-Russian parties gaining traction in central Europe.

Poles, historically and geographically wary of Russia, are being urged to vote to protect themselves. Northern Poland shares a heavily monitored 230km (142 miles) border with Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Poland has tightened security and plans to further reinforce the border with a 10-billion-zloty (£1.992bn) “Shield East” project, coordinated with Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.

While Tusk’s opponents, the Law and Justice party (PiS), focus on issues like the EU’s migration deal and the Green Deal, they also recognize the Russian threat, having invested heavily in defense during their governance. This election sees PiS candidate Karol Karski drawing attention with a campaign video of him symbolically stopping a Russian tank.

In schools, Polish children are learning survival skills, reflecting the national concern over the Russian threat. Captain Dominik Pijarski of the 6th Mazovian Brigade confirms that Poland is preparing for a real threat from Russia, with the entire nation learning lessons from the Ukraine invasion.

However, not all Poles unconditionally support Ukraine. In rural areas, farmers protest against the EU Green Deal and competition from Ukrainian farmers who benefit from tariff-free exports and can use banned chemicals, leading to higher productivity. These farmers support Ukraine militarily but feel the economic impact is unfair.

The European election has not generated much excitement, with traditionally lower turnout compared to national votes. However, Tusk’s final rally in Warsaw will likely focus on security, reiterating the ongoing risk of living next to Russia and the need for European vigilance.

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Baltic worries about Russia’s proposal to redraw sea borders

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Calls for calm have been issued in Finland and the Baltic states following a draft Russian decree proposing border revisions in the Baltic Sea. Latvia is seeking clarification, while Lithuania accuses the Kremlin of using the decree as an intimidation tactic. Finnish President Alexander Stubb stated that political leaders are monitoring the situation and Finland will respond calmly and factually.

The draft, issued by Russia’s defense ministry, suggested altering sea borders around Russian islands in the Gulf of Finland and the exclave of Kaliningrad. Initially reported by Russia’s Tass news agency, the draft aimed to redraw Soviet-era borders from January 1985. It was unclear if Finnish or Lithuanian waters near Kaliningrad would be affected, but the proposal included the eastern Gulf of Finland, islands near the Finnish coast, and areas around Baltiysk and Zelenogradsk in Kaliningrad.

As members of the EU and NATO, Finland and the Baltic states have the alliance’s commitment to defend their borders. Finland’s defense and foreign committees convened emergency meetings, with Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stating there is no immediate cause for alarm.

The Russian proposals were subsequently removed from public view with a “draft deleted” notice. A Russian source later confirmed no plans to alter territorial waters in the Baltic. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov directed questions to the defense ministry, noting the political landscape had changed since the 1980s and emphasizing the heightened confrontation in the Baltic region.

Charly Salonius-Pasternak from the Finnish Institute of International Affairs suggested Russia’s approach was typical: probing reactions and retreating if met with resistance. Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis described the draft as an escalation against NATO and the EU, advocating a strong response.

Simultaneously, Sweden’s armed forces chief, Gen Micael Byden, warned of Putin’s ambitions to control the Baltic Sea. Byden stressed the importance of keeping the Baltic Sea out of Putin’s control to maintain peace and stability. Sweden, a NATO member since March, has reinforced its military presence on the Baltic island of Gotland, which Gen Byden believes Russia has targeted.

In response to potential migration issues, Finland, which joined NATO last year, plans to prevent large-scale asylum seeker crossings from Russia. Helsinki fears Russia might exploit migration, but the UN refugee agency warns the draft law could lead to harmful pushbacks of legitimate asylum seekers, risking severe injuries, family separations, and deaths, according to UNHCR’s Philippe Leclerc.

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Leonid Volkov: Navalny ally blames Putin henchmen for attack in Lithuania

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Leonid Volkov, a close ally of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, was attacked outside his residence in Lithuania, sustaining injuries including a broken arm and multiple blows to his leg with a hammer. Lithuanian authorities suspect Russian involvement in organizing and executing the attack, a notion Volkov concurs with, attributing it to Putin’s regime. The incident occurred as Volkov arrived home in Vilnius.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda condemned the attack, expressing defiance against Putin, asserting that no one fears him in Lithuania. Another Navalny team member, Ivan Zhdanov, shared images of Volkov’s injuries on social media, affirming the attack’s political nature.

Volkov’s wife, Anna Biryukova, vowed to intensify their activism despite the assault. Volkov, who has been living outside Russia for safety reasons, has been a key figure in Navalny’s movement, facing politically motivated charges in Russia. Lithuanian authorities and the VSD state security department are investigating the attack, viewing it as an attempt to impede opposition efforts during Russia’s upcoming presidential elections, which lack genuine opposition candidates.

In a video statement, Volkov denounced the attack, emphasizing his determination to continue political activism. He called for peaceful protests during the election period and urged Russians to participate in a coordinated action against Putin’s regime.

Despite challenges, Volkov has ensured the continuity of Navalny’s activism from abroad, facilitating anti-corruption investigations and supporting protests in Russia. The Navalny organization has faced severe crackdowns, with many members imprisoned and the group labeled extremist in Russia. Ahead of the upcoming election, Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, echoes Volkov’s call for opposition unity, aligning with Navalny’s vision before his demise.

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Russia places Estonia’s prime minister on wanted list

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Russian authorities have initiated criminal proceedings against Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, alleging political motivations behind the charges. Alongside Kallas, Estonian Secretary of State Taimar Peterkop and Lithuanian Culture Minister Simonas Kairys were accused of damaging or destroying Soviet monuments dedicated to Soviet soldiers, according to Russia’s state-run Tass news agency. Despite Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirming the charges, the timing of the alleged offense remains unspecified. By Wednesday, officials from all three Baltic states were included on Russia’s wanted list.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Kallas declared Estonia’s intention to remove all Soviet monuments from public spaces. This decision, seen as a response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine, likely exacerbated tensions between Estonia and Russia, culminating in the recent legal actions against Kallas and other Baltic officials.

Kallas, seemingly the first head of state placed on the Russian Interior Ministry’s wanted list since the invasion began, responded defiantly on social media. She viewed the move as unsurprising and a testament to her support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. Kallas vowed to continue backing Ukraine despite Kremlin attempts to silence her.

Latvia and Lithuania reacted strongly to Russia’s actions, summoning their respective Russian ambassadors and condemning the charges as politically motivated. Estonia also summoned Russia’s charges d’affaires in response.

Estonia, having experienced Soviet occupation, joined the European Union and NATO in 2004. NATO’s expansion to Russia’s border has long unsettled Russian President Vladimir Putin, who perceives the alliance as a threat to Russia’s security. Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has heightened concerns in Estonia, prompting efforts to bolster defense measures and support for Ukraine.

Estonia’s Foreign Intelligence Service warned of Russia potentially increasing troop numbers on its borders with the Baltic countries and Finland, a NATO member since last year. Estonian officials stressed the importance of collective defense and increased spending on defense, with Estonia’s defense budget set to exceed 3% of GDP for the first time this year. In his annual foreign policy speech, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna strongly condemned Russian aggression and affirmed support for Ukraine, emphasizing the need to resist aggression and uphold democratic values.

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Turkey Supports Sweden’s NATO Accession

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Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has given his support to Sweden’s bid to join NATO, according to the alliance’s chief, Jens Stoltenberg. Erdogan has agreed to forward Sweden’s application to the Turkish parliament for ratification, ending months of Turkish opposition.

The decision comes after Sweden addressed Turkey’s security concerns by amending its constitution, changing laws, intensifying counter-terrorism efforts against the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party), and resuming arms exports to Turkey. The announcement was made following discussions between Erdogan and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Vilnius, Lithuania.

The NATO chief hailed the agreement as a “historic step” but couldn’t provide a specific timeline for Sweden’s accession as it depended on the Turkish parliament. The United States and other NATO members have welcomed Turkey’s support and expressed readiness to work with both Turkey and Sweden to enhance defense and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic area.

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Global Climate Trending

Lithuania’s harsh weather includes toxic dust and ash-like dirt

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Even though Lithuania has just heard the pitter-patter of rain, the country is still suffering from a severe drought.

In certain areas of the country, the earth has turned to ash, while toxic dust has blown through the streets of Vilnius, the capital. 

The grass is a burned golden colour, and some of the trees’ leaves are beginning to turn brown.

Many find it unsettling.  

The small Baltic nation’s Farmers’ Union already projects that up to a third of its crops may fail, and summer has just begun. 

With officials this week barring trips to several woods owing to fire concerns, many more months of intense heat might yet be ahead.

A component of this intricate and varied environmental issue is low precipitation.

Only a few times have there been raindrops since April, with the most recent one occurring in the middle of May, according to Gytis Valaika of the Lithuanian Hydrometeorological Service. 

She notes that whereas May rainfall generally measures 53mm, this year it barely registered 16mm (in some locations less than 10mm).

According to Gabija Tamulaityt, an environmental specialist at the Baltic Environmental Forum Lithuania, many farmers lack irrigation systems in their fields since they are typically not required, making them particularly sensitive to excessive heat.

The worst scenario is in western Lithuania, where cattle and arable cultivation have long been practised. Since early May, this region has been experiencing drought.

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Spy Swap: Norwegian spy Frode Berg freed by Russia

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Russia has released at least two Lithuanian spies and a Norwegian spy, Frode Berg, from their custody. In return, the country has managed to get at least two of its spies freed from the Lithuanian custody.

The three country spy swap deal is the most complicated deal the continent of Europe has witnessed in its recent history.

Norway is the one which has played a central role to get this deal materialised. Why they have gone that far is because the country was under severe pressure to get Mr. Berg, who was a high level officer, freed.

The family members of Mr. Berg have expressed their happiness in the deal. His daughter has already reached the city where he is expected to land within the next few hours.

Lithuania was an integral part of the erstwhile Soviet Union. Since the independence of the country, the spies of Lithuania are on continuous battle with its Russian counterparts.

The case is not very different with Norway, though it has no direct link with either the erstwhile Soviet Union or its successor, the present Russia.

Russia, Norway and Lithuania are situated very close to each other. Both Norway and Lithuania see Russia situated close to them as a threat.


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