Vilnius, March 13 (ELTA) – Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Friday Lithuania and other Baltic States “have long been playing from Zelensky’s notes” after Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys criticised Budapest’s decisions on Russian oil. 

“The Lithuanian foreign minister said today he would be ashamed to live in a country that buys cheap Russian oil, claiming it means giving up autonomy,” Szijjarto said in a post on Facebook.

“The Baltic States have long been playing from Zelensky’s notes, but Hungary will not give in to the blackmail of the Ukrainian president. No one can tell us where we should or should not buy oil from, and no one can force us to buy oil at a higher price than before,” he stated.

The conflict in the Middle East has pushed up fuel prices worldwide, prompting Moscow to call on the United States to lift more sanctions on Russian oil to stabilise the global energy market.

Earlier on Friday, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys warned against yielding to what he described as Russian “manipulations.”

“I recognise this game from past experience: Russia tries to gain political advantage by offering slightly cheaper oil while using all kinds of manipulations. We should not give in,” Budrys told reporters in the Seimas.

“Do you think cheaper oil for Hungary or Slovakia comes without strings attached? No. This is political, not market, trade – and a major risk factor,” he added.

Vilnius, March 13 (ELTA) – A coalition of 22 European countries, joined by Lithuania, officially appealed to the organisers of the Venice Biennale, demanding that Russia be banned from participating in this prestigious international art event, the Ministry of Culture said in a statement. 

This position was strongly supported by the European Commission in a separate statement. Representatives of the European Commission warned that EUR 2 million in EU funding for the Biennale could be withdrawn if the aggressor’s participation is not cancelled, to prevent any attempts to normalize the aggressor’s status through cultural and artistic platforms.

“For four years now, Russia has been waging a brutal and widespread war against the independent state of Ukraine. Every day and night, cities are being destroyed by rockets and bombs, civilian infrastructure is being destroyed, and innocent people are dying. Under such circumstances, culture cannot be used as a cover or a tool to create an illusion of normality. Culture must be a space for solidarity and the defence of human dignity, not a stage for improving the image of a state that is clearly violating international law and taking civilian lives every day,” says Minister of Culture Vaida Aleknavičienė.

In their official appeal, a coalition of 22 countries emphasises that making concessions to a state that disregards international law and humanity is, at the very least, unethical and directly contradicts the values declared by the event itself. The document stresses that the international community must prevent attempts to exploit prestigious cultural platforms for regime propaganda and must demonstrate genuine solidarity with Ukraine. Both documents send an unambiguous message to the organizers of the Venice Biennale: the representation of a country that continues its aggression in Ukraine in such formats will have serious consequences, including the loss of EU funding.

Lithuania, together with other coalition members, will continue to closely monitor the situation and actively defend the position that there is no place for an aggressor in the international cultural space.

Vilnius, March 13 (ELTA) – President Gitanas Nausėda, together with the leaders of Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Finland, Germany, Romania and Sweden, signed a letter addressed to President of the European Council António Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on the need to address the issue of sanctioning Russian combatants, reports the presidency.

The letter states that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine continues to reshape the European security environment, with long-term consequences for the European Union, as well as for the security of our citizens and, in particular, the Schengen Area. In addition to the military threat, it is also necessary to address the internal security risks arising from this war.

The leaders note that one of the most serious and persistent risks is the possible movement of former and current Russian combatants (Russian citizens) into the Schengen Area. Individuals who have participated in the war as part of the armed forces of the aggressor state pose a serious threat to internal security, including violent crimes, organised criminal networks, extremist movements, or activities of a hostile state in the broader context of Russia’s hybrid actions.

“Among them are a significant number of previously convicted criminals who were recruited from Russian prisons and sent to the front. With rotations and possible demobilisation, it is likely that the number of individuals with recent experience of violent combat and seeking to travel abroad will increase significantly,” the leaders warn.

The letter points out that the number of Schengen visas issued to Russian citizens is already growing rapidly, and given the freedom of movement within the Schengen Area, the security implications do not depend on which Member State issued the visa or residence permit.

“Therefore, any entry can have serious consequences for the security of a single Member State or the entire Schengen Area. Inaction would create long-term vulnerabilities that can still be avoided at this stage. Decisive and coordinated action is therefore urgently needed to prevent negative consequences,” the authors of the letter urge.

The leaders stress the need to strengthen cooperation at EU level in order to address this threat in a consistent and forward-looking manner. They point out that the Commission’s new visa policy strategy clearly states the possibility of applying new targeted visa restrictive measures if relations with a specific third country deteriorate significantly, including a proposed category covering “identified former and current combatants of the aggressor state”. This provides a clear political and policy basis for further work.

“We therefore invite the Commission, in close cooperation with the European External Action Service and the relevant Council structures, to urgently examine and put forward concrete next steps that could be implemented at EU level, including targeted amendments to the Visa Code or other appropriate legal instruments, with a view to enabling a coordinated European approach. The aim should be to avoid fragmentation and ensure consistent level of security across the Schengen Area,” the letter reads.

“We invite Member States to join this initiative and strengthen coordinated efforts through closer cooperation at the operational level. Finally, given the seriousness of the issue, we believe that this problem requires attention at the highest political level and a coordinated European response, which should be reflected in the conclusions of the European Council meeting in March,” the letter concludes.

Vilnius, March 13 (ELTA) – CEO of Lithuanian Airports, Simonas Bartkus, will leave his duties on 3 July 2026. Lithuanian Airports (LTOU) has announced that Bartkus is leaving by mutual agreement with the company.

The CEO said in a statement that during his three years at the company the number of passengers at three airports has reached a record number and Lithuania has become the largest market of the Baltic States, and five new airlines have entered the market.

Moreover, in Vilnius and Kaunas Airports, new passenger terminals were built or they were expanded, whereas the NPS passenger satisfaction index has reached the level of leading European airports.

Bartkus stated in a post on social platform Facebook on Friday that an agreement was reached with the board that for the next stage of the company’s development it needs another CEO.

As he is bound to leave the company, LTOU will hold an international competition to choose the new CEO. The CEO is selected by the company’s board.

LTOU manages three airports in Lithuania – in Vilnius, Kaunas and Palanga.

Barkus has led the company since August 2023.

Vilnius, March 13 (ELTA) – Lithuania’s electricity transmission system operator Litgrid said Friday it will provide humanitarian aid worth nearly EUR 160,000 to Ukraine’s energy sector.

The company told the Nasdaq Vilnius Stock Exchange it had approved a February board decision to conclude humanitarian aid agreements with entities operating in Ukraine 

“The humanitarian aid is intended for the reconstruction of Ukraine’s energy facilities that have suffered from the war,” Litgrid reports.

According to the company, the contract will be concluded with entities operating in Ukraine that meet the requirements of the Law on Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid and other requirements specified in legal acts.

The list of equipment transferred to Ukraine includes circuit breakers, disconnectors, transformers, pylons, linear armature.

Vilnius, March 13 (ELTA) – Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys on Friday discussed relations between Lithuania and India and opportunities for economic cooperation with India’s Foreign Secretary to the West, Sibi George.

“Today, Lithuania and India are linked by growing ties based on respect, open dialogue and a shared aspiration to expand partnership in the Indo-Pacific. We see increasing potential in the fields of economy, high technology, digitalisation and life sciences,” Budrys said in a statement from the ministry.

The minister also urged India to maintain its support for Ukraine, stressing that respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is a prerequisite for international security.

Vilnius, March 13 (ELTA) – LTG Group’s passenger transport company LTG Link will start an express train service on the Vilnius–Kaunas route at the end of March, with no intermediate stops to shorten travel time.

“Last year, LTG Link trains were chosen by almost six million people. A third of them, around two million passengers, travelled the Vilnius–Kaunas route. Considering the strategic importance of this direction and growing passenger numbers, we are launching an express service to improve quality of the journey,” the company said in a statement.

“An express rail service between the country’s two largest cities is an extra step that helps make the train a comfortable and reliable alternative to a car,” LTG Link CEO Kristina Meidė said. 

“It also strengthens our strategic goal of becoming the backbone of the country’s transport – a modern, sustainable solution adapted to daily travel needs,” she added.

Currently, trains on the Vilnius–Kaunas route stop at intermediate stations such as Lentvaris, Vievis, Kaišiadorys and Palemonas, with journeys taking 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes. The new express service will take as little as 59 minutes.

The Vilnius–Kaunas express train will offer seat reservations in first- and second-class carriages, with passengers holding fixed-term tickets assigned to marked seats. 

More hot meals and drinks will be available on board, and tickets will use dynamic pricing, allowing cheaper fares when booked in advance, LTG Link said.

Tickets for the new service go on sale Friday.

Vilnius, March 13 (ELTA) – The Ministry of Finance earlier this week submitted a proposal to the Seimas to reform Lithuania’s customs system by merging its institutions into a single legal entity, Lithuanian Customs. The changes are aimed at improving efficiency and transparency, speeding up decision-making, and enhancing the delivery of customs services to support business competitiveness, the ministry said in a statement.

“The reform will simplify the customs management structure and pave the way for more efficient and consistent customs operations throughout the national territory. By optimising internal administration, the human resources freed up will be channelled where they are most needed – to customs posts, the border and the control of international sanctions. This is important both for strengthening Lithuania’s security and for creating more favourable conditions for business competitiveness,” Minister of Finance Vaitiekūnas states.

Currently, the Lithuanian Customs system consists of the Customs Department, territorial customs offices and special customs offices acting as separate legal entities. Although part of the functions is centralised, the existing legal regulation obliges each body to manage financial, asset and document management independently, resulting in repetition of administrative processes, increased costs and fewer resources being left to the core functions of customs.

The amendments to the laws propose to merge all customs offices into one legal entity, the Lithuanian Customs. Instead of the current Customs Department, territorial and special customs offices, a single organisational structure would be formed with offices, departments, boards, divisions, customs posts and a training centre. This would fully centralise administrative functions, harmonise operational standards and reduce administrative costs by up to 30%.

Vilnius, March 13 (ELTA) – ELTA Brief provides a concise overview of the key events of Friday, 13 March, in Lithuania and around the world.

Polls published on Friday showed a decline in public support for Democrat leader Saulius Skvernelis, who is involved in a large-scale corruption case linked to the State Plant Service. On the same day, authorities reported that rising water levels in the Neris River had flooded the Radikiai village in Kaunas district, affecting 20 homes. Simonas Bartkus said he would step down as CEO of Lithuanian Airports (LTOU) at the beginning of July.

LITHUANIAN POLITICAL NEWS

Democrat leader Saulius Skvernelis, who is involved in a large-scale corruption case, saw his rating fall by more than five percentage points, according to the latest survey conducted by Spinter Tyrimai for Delfi. The survey found that the largest share of the population (15%) would like to see former prime minister Ingrida Šimonytė lead the Government. It also showed that 71.2% of respondents have a negative view of the current Government’s job, a trend similar to that recorded in January. If the Seimas election were held next Sunday, the Homeland Union–Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD) would come first, with 13.6% of respondents expressing support. They would be followed by the Liberal Movement led by Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen (8.3%) and Nemunas Dawn led by Remigijus Žemaitaitis (7.2%). The Social Democratic Party (LSDP), winner of the 2024 election, remained fourth. The Farmers and Greens Union (LVŽS) received support from 6%, followed by Democrats For Lithuania at 4.2%.

A group of lawmakers on Friday asked Seimas Speaker Juozas Olekas to dismiss Darijus Beinoravičius, a member of the Chief Official Ethics Commission (VTEK), citing a loss of confidence after he was found to have violated academic ethics. The motion was signed by 35 MPs, mostly from opposition groups. At least 29 signatures are required for a no-confidence motion to be considered in the Seimas plenary. In September, the Mykolas Romeris University Academic Ethics Supervision Commission found that a scientific article submitted by Beinoravičius constituted plagiarism and ruled that he had breached academic ethics. Beinoravičius resigned from his position at the university at the end of last year. He currently remains a member of VTEK and sits on the council of the Lithuanian National Radio and Television.

The water level in the Neris River in the Radikiai settlement of Kaunas district rose overnight into Friday as melting ice increased the risk of flooding, prompting authorities to issue an alert. Kaunas District Mayor Valerijus Makunas told a press conference that more than a dozen homes had been affected. He said the construction of a dyke should be considered in the future to prevent similar incidents. Ramunas Kemzūra, head of the Public Order Department of Kaunas District Municipality, said the situation was under control and that flooding was likely to be avoided.

President Gitanas Nausėda, together with the leaders of Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Finland, Germany, Romania and Sweden, called on European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to sanction Russian combatants. In a letter, the leaders state that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine continues to reshape the European security environment, with long-term consequences for the European Union, as well as for the security of our citizens and, in particular, the Schengen Area. The leaders note that one of the most serious and persistent risks is the possible movement of former and current Russian combatants (Russian citizens) into the Schengen Area.

The Criminal Police Bureau said it had dismantled an international drug trafficking ring. It said officers, working in cooperation with Danish Police, carried out a joint international operation that led to the arrest in Lithuania of three members of an organised crime group suspected of involvement in large-scale drug smuggling. In total, 13 people, including the alleged leaders of the group, were detained during the operation. The suspects are citizens of Lithuania and Denmark.

Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said his ministry is coordinating efforts to boost investment from Taiwan and is preparing a list of specific joint projects that could be implemented in the near future. According to him, the aim is to move from declarative expectations to concrete, written commitments. After the opening of the Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania, plans were announced to expand cooperation and attract major investment to the country. However, the Ministry of the Economy and Innovation said that although Taiwanese direct investment in Lithuania has increased significantly during this period, the overall amount remains modest. According to the ministry, Taiwan’s direct investment in Lithuania rose from EUR 0.53 million in 2021 to EUR 7.21 million in 2024.

LITHUANIAN BUSINESS NEWS

Finance Minister Kristupas Vaitiekūnas said there are no plans to cut the excise duty on fuel in the near future despite rising prices driven by the conflict in the Middle East. According to the minister, such a move would be a measure of last resort and would have little positive effect under current circumstances. He stressed that Lithuania should first monitor market developments, making it too early to consider concrete steps to mitigate the impact of higher fuel costs. Vaitiekūnas said the use of the country’s fuel reserves is a temporary measure to cushion the price shock, and it remains unclear how much releasing the reserves could reduce prices. He added that the economic consequences of tapping the reserves must be assessed first. On Friday, he discussed potential measures to lower fuel prices with Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė.

The CEO of Lithuanian Airports (LTOU), Simonas Bartkus, said he will leave his duties on 3 July. The operator announced that Bartkus is leaving by mutual agreement with the company. Bartkus stated in a post on Facebook that an agreement was reached with the board that for the next stage of the company’s development it needs another CEO. LTOU has already opened an international competition to choose the new head. Board Chairman Gediminas Almantas said the candidates are expected to have international experience and the ability to continue expanding the country’s airport network, strengthen connectivity, and implement planned infrastructure projects.

Following reports of air pollution violations at the Kazokiškės landfill, Elektrėnai District Mayor Gediminas Ratkevičius said the municipality is preparing a complaint to the Environmental Protection Agency. According to the mayor, the landfill pollution problem is long-standing and has caused significant disruption for local residents, and although the possibility of declaring an emergency is being considered, there are currently no grounds for it. After the Department of Environmental Protection (AAD) found that hydrogen sulfide levels at the site exceeded permitted limits, the Vilnius County Waste Management Centre (VAATC), responsible for halting the pollution, said it is accelerating planned projects to reduce emissions. These include the final stage of covering the landfill pile, designed to contain odours and expand the gas collection system.

FOREIGN NEWS

A US KC-135 aerial refuelling aircraft crashed in Iraq, killing all six crew members. The US military said the incident “was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.” However, Iran’s military earlier claimed the plane had been shot down by a missile fired by an allied group in Iraq. The crash brings the total number of confirmed US deaths in the operation against Iran to 13.

Türkiye confirmed it had shot down a third ballistic missile from Iran. The Turkish Defence Ministry said the missile, which entered the country’s airspace, was neutralised by NATO air and missile defence forces deployed in the eastern Mediterranean. The first missile launched from Iran was intercepted by NATO forces on 4 March, and the second on Monday. Monday’s incident prompted Washington to close its consulate in Adana and urge all US citizens to leave southeastern Türkiye. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who spoke by phone with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, denied that the missile had been fired from Iran.

Poland’s president vetoed a law on EU defence loans. At the end of February, the Polish parliament approved EUR 44 billion in low-interest loans from a total EUR 150 billion fund under the EU’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme to modernise the armed forces. However, the president, who is closely aligned with the opposition, refused to sign the law, citing a desire to avoid debt and an unwillingness to depend on foreign decisions. Poland’s prime minister later said the president’s decision served only Russia’s interests and pledged that the government would adopt a resolution to implement the SAFE initiative despite the presidential veto.

Moscow called on the United States to lift more sanctions on its oil exports to help stabilise global energy markets disrupted by the war in the Middle East. After oil prices exceeded USD 100 per barrel, Washington temporarily allowed the sale of Russian offshore oil. The move was criticised by Ukraine and the United States’ main Western allies, while a Kremlin spokesman highlighted overlapping US and Russian interests in stabilising the global energy market. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stressed that real market stabilisation was impossible without large volumes of Russian oil, and the Kremlin’s economic envoy Kirill Dmitriev described further easing of sanctions against Russia as inevitable.

Vilnius, March 13 (ELTA) – The Seimas, after the submission, earlier this week started to debate the Finance Ministry’s proposal to ratify the Convention between Lithuania and Pakistan for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income. 

The Convention was signed on 23 September 2025 in New York and is a significant part of the consistent development of Lithuania’s network of double taxation conventions, the ministry said in a press release.

“This Convention will enhance legal certainty for Lithuanian businesses and residents operating in Pakistan and will ensure that the same income is not taxed twice in different countries. Moreover, the Convention will contribute to the international efforts to combat tax avoidance, abuse and profit shifting in implementation of instruments approved by the OECD and G20”, Minister of Finance K. Vaitiekūnas says.

Currently, Lithuania has double taxation conventions with 58 countries. The new Convention with Pakistan will facilitate bilateral economic cooperation, investments and trade, while strengthening tax transparency and helping to prevent tax avoidance and tax evasion.

The Convention will come into force only after its ratification by both parties. Its provisions will apply from the calendar year following the Convention coming into force – in Lithuania from 1 January, while in Pakistan from 1 July.

Vilnius, March 13 (ELTA) – As the military conflict in the Middle East continues, the number of Lithuanian citizens in the region is declining, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It estimates that about 650 Lithuanians currently remain in countries across the region.

“We are seeing a decreasing trend. At present, there are about 650 Lithuanians in the region,” the ministry said in a comment to ELTA on Friday.

Nearly two weeks ago, when the offensive began in the Middle East, authorities decided to evacuate the most vulnerable groups of Lithuanian citizens from the region – pregnant women, families with young children, people with serious illnesses, those with mobility disabilities and the elderly. They were brought back to Lithuania last week.

The Foreign Ministry’s chancellor later said that a second evacuation flight was not planned, adding that efforts would instead focus on helping citizens return to Lithuania via commercial routes or evacuation flights organised by other countries.

On 28 February, Israel launched what it described as pre-emptive strikes against Iran “to eliminate the threat to the state of Israel”.

US President Donald Trump confirmed that Washington had also begun a “major military operation” against Iran and ordered the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to surrender immediately or face “certain death”.

The attacks have triggered region-wide retaliatory strikes from Tehran.

Vilnius, March 13 (ELTA) – President Gitanas Nausėda on Friday visited the Rukla military hub together with Petr Pavel, President of the Czech Republic, who is on a state visit to Lithuania, the presidency reported.

During the visit, the two leaders were briefed on the activities of NATO allied forces in Lithuania and shown military equipment.

President Nausėda emphasised that the joint visit to Rukla, and Thursday’s visit to the Lithuanian–Belarusian border, are a strong symbol of the partnership between Lithuania and Czechia and their shared commitment to strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defence on the eastern flank.

He stressed that Lithuania greatly appreciates Czechia’s consistent and significant contribution to regional security. Since 2018, Czech troops have been serving in NATO’s multinational battlegroup in Lithuania, contributing to allied collective defence.

President Nausėda noted that Russia remains the greatest threat to Euro-Atlantic security, which is why the unity and solidarity of the allies is particularly important.

He also underlined Lithuania’s commitment to strengthening its defence. In 2026, Lithuania is allocating 5.38% of its GDP to defence, primarily for developing the national division’s air defence capabilities, expanding training grounds, and building infrastructure to host allied forces.

The president thanked Czechia for its leadership in supporting Ukraine, particularly for the highly important ammunition initiative led by Czechia, in which Lithuania has been participating since 2024.

According to President Nausėda, Lithuania, together with Czechia and other NATO allies, will continue to strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defence capabilities to ensure the security of the entire Euro-Atlantic area.