Shameful decision by the @WorldPentathlon to strip #Lithuania of its World Cup event for refusing to turn a blind eye to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. This sets a dangerous precedent and sends a fundamentally wrong message. Lithuania’s position has been clear from day one: we will not help normalise the participation of representatives of aggressor states — Russia and Belarus — in international sport. Russia continues its brutal war against #Ukraine, while Belarus remains complicit in enabling that. The EU must tighten restrictions on Russian and Belarusian athletes competing under national colours, expand visa bans and sanctions, and cut support for those enabling state-sponsored propaganda. Lithuania will never normalise aggression. We will stand with Ukraine not only when it is convenient, but especially when it is not.

Within hours today, #Lithuania faced two serious security incidents. Overnight, a sabotage attempt targeting Starlink infrastructure near Vilnius was thwarted. Its purpose was clear: to undermine a capability critical to #Ukraine’s defence and civilian communications. This morning, an unidentified UAV violated Lithuanian airspace, posing a risk to our citizens and their property. Both incidents are a direct consequence of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its wider repercussions for European security. Hybrid attacks, sabotage, and airspace incursions threaten critical infrastructure, spread fear, and seek to undermine European support for Ukraine. Lithuania supports, and will continue to support Ukraine in exercising its inherent right of self-defence, in full accordance with Article 51 of the #UN Charter. We also urge Russia to immediately cease its aggression against Ukraine. We remain vigilant. Attacks against our critical infrastructure will be investigated, exposed, and met with resolve. We stand with our Allies and with Ukraine.

The Kremlin’s war against #Ukraine is sustained by powerful interests that continue to benefit from and support Russia’s aggression. When two influential Russian oligarchs were removed from the #EU sanctions list, it sent the wrong signal. #Lithuania is taking action and will not look away. Today, we froze the assets of Mikhail Fridman and Alisher Usmanov under our national sanctions regime. Sanctions pressure on Russia and its war enablers must be strengthened and sustained.

Today, by adopting legislation on the educational rights of indigenous peoples and national minorities, #Ukraine has delivered on its part and once again proved – not through rhetoric, but through real action – that it is a strong and reliable partner, ready to address what is important to its European partners and committed to resolving the issues at hand together. Now is the right moment for Ukraine’s #EU partners to show the same level of resolve. As a sign of this, #Lithuania expects progress as early as tomorrow in opening negotiation Clusters 2 and 3 with 🇺🇦, and on Clusters 4 and 5 shortly thereafter, still in 2026. Ukraine’s EU accession is a security guarantee for the EU just as for Ukraine, and we shall seek every opportunity to make it a reality, the faster, the better. No more moving targets! No more artificial delays!